By IANS
Hong Kong : The draw card for UBS Hong Kong Open Mike weir got a huge boost after claiming a dramatic PGA Tour triumph at the Fry’s Electronics Open Sunday at Scottsdale. He beat Australian Mark Hensby by one shot.
It was the eighth PGA Tour victory of Weir’s career and cements his status as one of the favourites when the UBS Hong Kong Open is staged at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling on November 15-18.
Weir’s latest success comes three weeks after he defeated world No.1 Tiger Woods in their singles match at the Presidents Cup and shows he is starting to find top form after remodelling his swing.
“I’ve put a lot of hard work in,” said the 2003 Masters champion. “Over the last eight or nine months, it has started to feel better all the time. For the last month or so, it has been feeling really good and to get a win here (in Scottsdale) is great.”
Weir will be one of six PGA Tour stars on view at Fanling, the others being two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen, world No.9 K.J. Choi, Stuart Appleby, Arron Oberholser and Trevor Immelman.
Reigning Hong Kong champion José Manuel Lara of Spain will be returning to defend his title while Chinese No.1 and Asian Tour UBS Order of Merit leader Liang Wenchong has also confirmed he will be taking part.
Weir, Appleby, Oberholser and Immelman will all be playing in Hong Kong for the first time.
The Hong Kong Open is again jointly sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours and more star players will be announced in the coming weeks. The Open was first staged in 1959 — making it the territory’s oldest professional sporting event — and has been held every year at the Hong Kong Golf Club.