2009 PGA European Tour goes to Hong Kong for second time this season

(AFP PHOTO/Paul Lakatos/UBS/HO)

Tickets for the Hong Kong Open November 12-15 appear to represent great value as professional golfers return in a bid to cement their ranked placings before the final European Tour event at the Dubai World Championships on November 19.

The Hong Kong Open is a combined European and Asian Tour event, and for the European contingent it is the second time in a season they visit the course as, in a rare scheduling quirk, the European Tour reorganizes its calendar to fall into line with other PGA tours.

Despite this, tickets for the Hong Kong Open are significantly cheaper than at the preceding Chinese stage. Compared to Chinese ¥500 ($74 / €49) for a weekday pass to the World Golfing Championship event in Shanghai, even the final day's play in Hong Kong is available for the much lower price of HK$300 ($39 / €28), and a pass for all four days costs only HK$400 ($52 / €35).

As part of the inclusive hospitality arrangements at the Hong Kong Golf Club, there are complimentary golf lessons from professional golfers, SNAG golfing for children, and a putting clinic along with the now-standard big screen displaying live coverage.

Joining world no. four Paul Casey, no. 5 Lee Westwood, and 20-year-old hotshot Rory McIlroy on the course will be 52-year-old Chinese golfing veteran William Fung who snuck through the last round of domestic qualifiers, and 16-year-old local star Steven Lam who booked his place at the tournament way back in January.

The tournament is expected to be broadcast on dedicated sports channels worldwide, just as other stages in the European and Asian Tour have been; many will also keep their websites updated for those following from a distance.

UBS Hong Kong Open
November 12-15
The Hong Kong Golf Club
Sheung Shui, Hong Kong
Ticketing website: Cityline.com
Ticketing phone number: +(852) 2111 5333
Pricing: Thursday, Friday, HK$150 each; Saturday, HK$250; Sunday, HK$300; Tournament Pass, HK$400.