Former champions Simon Dyson and Miguel Angel Jiménez, together with Ryder Cup stars David Howell and Paul McGinley, have been confirmed in the starting field for the UBS Hong Kong Open as the tournament finalises one of the strongest line-ups in its long and illustrious history.
Also, six-time Major winner and Europe’s 2008 Ryder Cup Captain, England’s Nick Faldo, will make a rare playing appearance as he takes on an "ambassadorial" role as a special guest of UBS.
Englishman Dyson, who won at Fanling in 2000, will head to the second ranking event in The European Tour 2008 schedule full of confidence after recently finishing joint runner-up in the 2007 season-ending Volvo Masters in Spain.
And the cigar-chomping, pony-tailed Jiménez of Spain will also be a big threat around Fanling's par 70 Championship Course, having won the tournament in 2004 and finished joint sixth a year ago.
The list of title contenders seeking to depose the holder, Spain’s José Manuel Lara, has also swelled with the inclusion of Irishman McGinley, a three-time Ryder Cup winner, and England's Howell, twice a member of the successful European team.
Additionally, Charlie Wi will be among those teeing it up when the US$2.25 million showpiece is staged at the Hong Kong Golf Club in Fanling on November 15-18.
Korean Wi, who was joint fifth in the Ginn sur Mer Classic – his third top-10 finish in the US this year – will be looking to add the UBS Hong Kong Open title to the Malaysian Open crown he won last year.
Also, in-form Daniel Chopra has become the latest PGA Tour winner to sign up.
Chopra, Swedish-born but raised in India, recently joined golf's elite with his maiden PGA Tour victory in the Ginn sur Mer Classic at Tesoro, Florida.
It was his third top ten finish of the year and helped him end the US PGA Tour season in 48th place on the Money List, confirming his status as a rising star.
"The addition of these six players to the stars already announced means the UBS Hong Kong Open will undoubtedly have its best ever line-up," said Martin Capstick of tournament promoter Parallel Media Group.
"The 2006 tournament attracted record crowds to Fanling and we are confident that the Hong Kong public will turn up in similar numbers this year to see some world class players in action."
The stellar line-up at the UBS Hong Kong Open will be headlined by two-time US Open champion Retief Goosen of South Africa, and 2003 Masters Tournament winner Mike Weir of Canada, who will be joined by fellow talents such as Korea’s KJ Choi, Australia’s Stuart Appleby and South Africa’s Trevor Immelman.
Reigning champion José Manuel Lara of Spain will return to defend his title while Asian Tour UBS Order of Merit leader Liang Wenchong will fly the flag for China.
The UBS Hong Kong Open is again jointly sanctioned by the European and Asian Tours.
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.
