Ian Poulter will revisit the scene of one of the greatest rounds in his career when he returns to the UBS Hong Kong Open to defend his title this week.
The Englishman scorched his way to a 60 in the second round last year at the Hong Kong Golf Club, en route to claiming the title by one shot from compatriot Simon Dyson and Italian teenager Matteo Manassero.
It was the tenth of his 11 European Tour victories, and he heads to Hong Kong on a high after storming to a joint second place finish in last week’s Omega Mission Hills World Cup with a stunning 63 alongside Justin Rose in the final day’s foursomes.
“Having a chance to shoot 59, it has to be one of the best rounds I’ve ever played,” he said. “The other was in Italy when I went very low. They are memorable rounds of golf.
“I putted very well. And when you do that and start seeing balls go in, it takes the pressure off the rest of your game. So being relaxed on the tee shots, relaxed in the middle of the fairway, it makes the rest of it pretty easy. It's all about getting your irons going – that’s key to holing putts and taking pressure off.
“I like the course. I like the way it’s not very long and you have to think your way around it, playing positional stuff. The greens are small and pretty true, and if you get the putter going you can shoot some good scores. It's just a nice blend. It's old school.
“It's a nice week. You play a lovely golf course and you go back in the evening to a great hotel and fantastic restaurants. Hong Kong just has a good vibe.”
Rory McIlroy also features in the stellar field, and the Northern Irishman will be looking to continue his fine form at Fanling, having finished sixth last year and second in 2009.
The 22 year old will, however, need to win this week to have any chance of overhauling Luke Donald at the top of The Race to Dubai by the end of the season.
He currently trails by €1,131,512 and would need to triumph in Hong Kong and in next week’s Dubai World Championship presented by DP World, the last event of the season, to have any chance of being crowned Europe’s Number One.
The pressure is also on a number of players who need a fine performance in Hong Kong to guarantee a place in the field for the Dubai World Championship , with only the top 60 in The Race to Dubai qualifying for the lucrative season finale.
Three-time Major winner Padraig Harrington, who won the tournament in 2004, is currently 67th, former European Ryder Cup Captain Colin Montgomerie is 102nd and David Howell, a former Ryder Cup player, is 103rd. And those who are currently just inside the top 60 - Peter Lawrie (60th ) and Christian Nilsson - (59th) will be intent on not relinquishing their places.
Another former champion in action is Miguel Angel Jiménez, who has won the tournament twice previously and is in the field for the US$2.75million event, which is being played at the historic Hong Kong Golf Club for the 53rd consecutive year.
