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Hong Kong - Six to watch

Watch all four rounds of the Hong Kong Open on Sky Sports. Live coverage starts on Thursday at 6am on SS3

Last updated: 17th November 2008

Jimenez: defending champion

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The European Tour returns to Fanling for the eighth straight year with Miguel Angel Jimenez chasing his third victory in the Hong Kong Open.

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The defending champion also won in 2004, with Hong Kong's Northern Territories proving to be a successful location for Spanish golfers over the years.

Four times since the event became part of the European Tour a Spaniard has collected the winner's cheque, with Jose Maria Olazabal and Jose Manuel Lara taking home the Hong Kong Open trophy in 2001 and 2006 respectively.

But also keep an eye on the fortunes of India's Jeev Milkha Singh and New Zealander Mark Brown who are the front runners in the chase to end the season as the Asian Tour's leading money winner.

Hong Kong Golf Club has three 18-hole courses, with the Open played over a composite layout from its Eden and New venues.

The tree-lined course has six dog-leg holes but few water hazards and in six of seven tournaments since 2001 has produced a winning-score of below 270.

Another low-scoring event can be anticipated again this time.

So who can be expected to challenge this week?

Michael Campbell: The rejuvenated Kiwi has enjoyed some decent form in recent months. Each of his last six starts on the European Tour have produced top-25 finishes, including a brace of top-3s and two other top-10s.

Simon Dyson: The Englishman will always be highly-fancied in this part of the world. A former winner of the Hong Kong Open before it became part of the European Tour, Dyson has had 16 top-25 finishes in Asia during the last six years - more than any other European. He also played well for 54 holes in Singapore last week before falling down the leaderboard on the final day.

Thongchai Jaidee: Thailand's best-known golfer has finished 7th-3rd-2nd on his three most recent trips to Fanling.

Miguel Angel Jimenez: The 44-year-old Spaniard's last 16 rounds here average 67.56.

Soren Kjeldsen: The in-form Dane, who won at Valderrama, has posted three top-20 finishes in his last four visits to Hong Kong.

Wen-Chong Liang: Has not finished outside the top-25 in his last four starts at the Hong Kong Open and has enjoyed a lucrative season on his home continent during 2008.