This week six StrokeAverage.com clients have made the trip to Hong Kong as part of their Race to Dubai.

The same number of Major Champions and a host of The European Tour’s finest will play a leading role this week in the 50th anniversary celebrations of the UBS Hong Kong Open, the oldest sporting event in Hong Kong and one of the most prestigious events on The 2009 International Schedule.

New Zealand’s Michael Campbell, America’s John Daly, Europe’s recent Ryder Cup Captain Nick Faldo, Germany’s Bernhard Langer, Scotland’s Paul Lawrie and Spain’s José Maria Olazábal have laid claim to a total of 14 Major championships between them, whilst both Langer and Olazábal can also count the Hong Kong Open amongst their vast collection of titles. 

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This tournament will be played on the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling and has a prize fund of $2.5million US Dollars, which will count towards The Race to Dubai, currently headed by Sergio Garcia after the Spaniard’s victory at the HSBC Champions at Shanghai in China.

In addition, the 51st UBS Hong Kong Open will be played the week prior to the final event of the season, the US$10million Dubai World Championship, meaning the tournament could play a leading role in determining who is crowned the eventual winner of the inaugural Race to Dubai.

The event was first played in 1959 and has been part of The European Tour International Schedule since 2002, when Olazábal took the title.

His compatriot Miguel Angel Jiménez is the defending champion, having prevailed by one stroke from Korea’s KJ Choi, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Sweden’s Robert Karlsson, the 2008 European Tour Number One, in a tense finish 12 months ago.

Jiménez, who also won by the same margin in 2005, returns to the scene of his triumph bidding to become the first European to lift the trophy three times, and only the second player to successfully defend the title after Hsieh Yung Yo achieved the feat in 1964.   

He said: “The Hong Kong Golf Club is one of my favourite courses in the world, and the UBS Hong Kong Open is one of my favourite tournaments. When you look at the list of former champions, you realise how historic and important it is. The 50th edition of the tournament should be even more special, and I’m really going to enjoy being part of it this week as I seek to defend my title.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to win the UBS Hong Kong Open twice, and I would love to complete the hat-trick – especially in the first year of The Race to Dubai. But UBS have put together a tremendous field as always, so it’s going to be extremely tough. I’m especially pleased two fantastic Hong Kong Open champions in Bernhard and José Maria, and Nick – who has been such an inspiration to European golfers – will be playing alongside me this week. I count them as good friends, and we’re all looking forward to what promises to be a great week at Fanling.”

Two-time Masters Champion Langer is also in fine form, having topped the Champions Tour Money List after a stunning rookie season and will be looking to add to his tally of 42 European Tour Titles.

He said: “I have very fond memories of Hong Kong, having won there many years ago. The UBS Hong Kong Open is one of the great tournaments in Asia, and Hong Kong is one of the most unique locations on Tour.  I’m really looking forward to returning for the 50th edition of the tournament – what a great achievement.”

Fellow Ryder Cup Captain Faldo, playing his first professional event since leading The European Team at Valhalla, also has fond memories of the Hong Kong Golf Club, having carded a round of 62 – then a course record – en route to winning the inaugural Johnnie Walker Classic in 1990. 

There will be two other members of Faldo’s Ryder Cup Team from Kentucky teeing it up at the Hong Kong Golf Club this week – Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell who is a long term StrokeAverage.com client and England’s Oliver Wilson who is still seeking his first European Tour title after finishing second for the eighth time in his career at the HSBC Champions two weeks ago.

Other StrokeAverage.com clients in the field are Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley and two of the very youngest European Tour Players Oliver Fisher and Rory McIlroy who are also both seeking their first European Tour victories.  In addition, there are also two Callaway Staff players that are benefiting from the StrokeAverage.com equipment monitoring service.

Rory McIlroy managed to finish Tied 4th at last weeks Barclays Singapore Open on the Asian Tour won by India's Jeev Milka Singh.