All-star lineup:
From left: Paul Lawrie, Matt Kuchar, Secretary of the Mega Events Fund assessment committee Vincent Fung, Rory Mcllroy, Padraig Harrington and YE Yang meet the media.
All-star lineup:
From left: Paul Lawrie, Matt Kuchar, Secretary of the Mega Events Fund assessment committee Vincent Fung, Rory Mcllroy, Padraig Harrington and YE Yang meet the media.
HK Open draws top players
November 13, 2012
World No. 1 golfer Rory Mcllroy, together with other leading professional players, are in Hong Kong gearing up for the signature annual golf event, the
Hong Kong Open, at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling.
Mr McIlroy, together with four-time US PGA Tour winner Matt Kuchar and golf champions Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie and YE Yang, spoke to the media today about the upcoming event.
“Hong Kong has always been a place I enjoy coming to…I was involved in a great playoff here in 2008 and I’ve come close a couple of times, and last year I was lucky enough to finally get my first win here. So Hong Kong is just a great city, it’s always got a great buzz, a great atmosphere and there’s something about Fanling and the Hong Kong Golf Club I really enjoy,” Mr McIlroy said.
Mr Kuchar relished the opportunity to visit Hong Kong for the first time.
"Always, I’d heard so many great, positive things about the city of Hong Kong, and when the invitation came, it was an opportunity that my wife and I were excited to go to a new city, to see a place like this, to experience the culture,” he said.
Mr Harrington was pleased to be returning to the venue, which he referred to as "one of the best venues of the year we’re playing in".
The tournament will be broadcast worldwide and is expected to attract more than 33,000 participants and spectators, including over 5,100 tourists.
The Mega Events Fund is supporting this event with $15 million, as it enhances Hong Kong’s international profile and raises the city's status as an events capital for Asia.
Fund Assessment Committee Secretary Vincent Fung said the Hong Kong Open is one of the oldest professional sporting events and the fund is pleased to support the historic championship.
“Since 2009, we have supported 21 events altogether from arts, cultural, sport and entertainment fields. Mega Events can bring many positive effects to Hong Kong,” Mr Fung said.
The fund supports other events to be held in the coming months, including the Dragon & Lion Dance Extravaganza 2013, Hong Kong Well-Wishing Festival 2013 and a soccer exhibition match between Kitchee and Manchester United.
