Milestones of the Hong Kong Open

The 2015 Hong Kong Open, which saw Justin Rose engaged in a thrilling tussle with Denmark’s Lucas Bjerregaard, provided tremendous drama. But Hong Kong’s oldest professional sporting event has a habit of producing more than its fair share of memorable moments

1979

Thirty-five years ago, a young Australian pitched up at Fanling and wowed the galleries with his untamed blonde hair, good looks and aggressive golf game. Greg Norman had only turned pro two years previously but played like a seasoned veteran in winning the 1979 title. He would later add the 1983 Hong Kong Open to his impressive list of achievements. Despite only winning two majors - the 1986 and 1993 Open Championships - the “Shark” is considered a legend in his home country, inspiring tens of thousands of children - including current superstars Jason Day and Adam Scott - to start playing the game.

1994

When American journeyman pro Craig McClellan was going to hit his second shot on the 18th fairway of the final round, he desperately needed an eagle two to to force a play-off with South African stalwart David Frost. Incredibly, McClellan did exactly that by holing his seven-iron from 160 yards away, but succumbed to the pressure in extra time as Frost walked away with the title. Nevertheless, McClellan’s shot ranks alongside that of Lin Wen-tang’s (see 2008) as the finest (or luckiest) in the history of the event.

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