Hong Kong Open golf: Miguel Angel Jimenez eyes fifth title, Ernie Els makes Fanling debut

Defending champion Miguel Angel Jimenez says he feels like he is coming home as he returns to the Hong Kong Open looking for a record fifth victory in the tournament.

The 50-year-old Spaniard has won in Fanling in 2004, 2005, 2012 and 2013, and is hoping to create history by becoming the first five-time winner and also the first man to win three successive titles at Hong Kong Golf Club.

The ever-popular Jimenez is also looking to break his own record for the oldest winner on the European Tour, so could make plenty of history this week if he secures another win in familiar surroundings.

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“It always feels good to come back to Hong Kong,” said Jimenez. “It is one of my favourite places in the world and it feels like coming home in some ways.

“I love the city and the golf course at Fanling, and I have been very lucky to have enjoyed a lot of success here in the past and made a lot of friends and had so many good memories.”

“I might be getting older but I still feel like I can keep competing on Tour to give myself chances to win tournaments, and as long as I feel like this then I will keep playing. I would love to win this tournament for the fifth time.”

“Not many people can say they have won any tournament five times, and to be able to say you have won one of the great tournaments in the world five times would be very special for me.”

Els debut

Ernie Els will celebrate his 45th birthday at Fanling on Friday as he makes his Hong Kong Open debut, and he hopes to spoil Jimenez’s hat-trick hopes, although he knows the Spaniard will be tough to beat.

“Miguel’s record speaks for itself, winning here four times,” said Els. “He obviously loves the layout and knows the greens obviously.  So I'd love to play with him over the weekend - I know he's going to be up there so if you are playing with him then you won’t be too far away.        

“My own form is okay – I found a bit of form over the weekend at the Dunhill Links a couple of weeks back and I'm actually quietly optimistic about my game and quite excited about my game, especially for when the new season starts.  But I'd love to get it going here this week and see what Miguel and the rest of the crew does out there.

“I've been playing around the world most of my career and was actually made the Asian Tour’s global ambassador a couple of years ago which was a great honour for me. I've been playing the Asian Tour, European Tour, South African Tour and in America so that's been very special.”

China’s Zhang Lianwei and Liang Wen-chong will spearhead the home challenge as they look to become the first Asian winner of the event since Lin Wen-tang was successful in a playoff with Rory McIlroy back in 2008.

“It would mean a lot for me to finally win the Hong Kong Open,” said Zhang. “If I could add this title to the China Open and Macau Open I could retire a happy man.”

Watch the Hong Kong Open golf live on Sky Sports 4 HD from 5am on Thursday morning.