July 21, 2011: The European Tour and its co-sanctioning partners, the Asian Tour and the Hong Kong Golf Association, today confirm that UBS have decided not to renew their title sponsorship of the Hong Kong Open following the conclusion of this year’s event from December 1-4.
The 53rd edition of the UBS Hong Kong Open, one of Asia’s most prestigious and enduring sporting events, will be played once again at the popular Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, and marks seven years with UBS - Switzerland’s biggest bank - as the title sponsor.
A world class field, including new US Open Champion Rory McIlroy, ensures that the2011 event will create an enormous sense of drama and excitement in an area which has experienced a recent surge in interest in golf.
The tournament holds a prominent strategic position on The European Tour International Schedule, as the final counting event towards deciding the Number One to 60 players in The Race to Dubai who compete in the season-ending Dubai World Championship at the Jumeirah Golf Estates, Dubai, UAE, from December 8-11.
The UBS Hong Kong Open also plays an important role in determining the winner of the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit crown.
Kathy Shih, UBS CEO Wealth Management Asia Pacific said: “'UBS is extremely proud of the central role it has played in establishing the Hong Kong Open as one of the most prestigious championships in Asian golf. As part of a strategic shift in its sponsorship strategy away from golf, UBS has decided not to extend its title sponsorship beyond 2011. We very much appreciate having been involved in such a successful partnership with the Hong Kong Golf Association, The European Tour and the Asian Tour and we look forward to continuing to work with the partners to ensure the success of the 2011 UBS Hong Kong Open”.
Keith Waters, The European Tour’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “The Hong Kong Open has a rich and illustrious history stretching back more than half a century and it continues to rank as one of Asia’s most popular sporting events.
“In recent years, the profile and status of the Hong Kong Open has been significantly enhanced by a rise in the prize fund from US$700,000 in 2005 to the current purse of US$2.75 million, the quality of the field and a high quality host venue in the Hong Kong Golf Club.
“We understand UBS’s decision not to extend their contract based on a strategic shift in their sponsorship programme, but we thank them for their support and look forward to ensuring the good health of the Hong Kong Open with the continued backing of the Hong Kong government and a new sponsor.”
Kyi Hla Han, Executive Chairman of the Asian Tour said: “We are indeed grateful for the passion and commitment which UBS have injected into the Hong Kong Open over the past seven years. Their involvement has no doubt escalated the stature of one of Asia’s finest national championships and raised the benchmark for other tournaments to emulate.”
Iain Valentine, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Golf Association, said: “The Hong Kong Golf Association would like to thank UBS for all their efforts over the past seven years in bringing the tournament to the position it is now in, and the Golf Association is confident that any new sponsor will take the tournament to an even higher level in the years to come.
“This year’s tournament will be the best ever, not only because of UBS’s sponsorship but because of the Hong Kong Government’s very generous support from the Mega Event fund, something of which the Hong Kong Golf Association is very appreciative. The Golf Association looks forward to welcoming all golf fans to the Hong Kong Golf Club in December to witness some great golf at one of Asia’s finest golf courses.”
The Hong Kong Open, first played in 1959, has developed into a highly popular and prestigious destination on The European Tour International Schedule. Past champions include Peter Thomson, Greg Norman, Ian Woosnam, Bernhard Langer and Tom Watson and more recently José Maria Olazábal, Padraig Harrington, Miguel Angel Jiménez and Colin Montgomerie have been crowned champions.
Ryder Cup player Ian Poulter captured the title from fellow Englishman Simon Dyson and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero in 2010.