Monty intent on defending HK title

The Ryder Cup star is eager to relive the glory days of last year looking to continue a streak which has seen him win at least once every year since 1993. The 43-year-old Scotsman is brimming with confidence as he prepares to challenge an impressive field that includes South African Retief Goosen, New Zealander Michael Campbell, a former Major champion, and Irish Ryder Cup star Paul McGinley at the Hong Kong Golf Club.

The Asian onslaught will be led by Korea’s Choi Kyung-ju, the four-time winner on the US PGA Tour, Thai duo of Thaworn Wiratchant and Thongchai Jaidee, India’s Jeev Milkha Singh, the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit leader, and India’s Jyoti Randhawa, who won his sixth Asian Tour title at the Hero Honda Indian Open last month.

Comfortable with his game heading into the US$2 million event, Montgomerie will be hoping to stretch his winning streak at the par 70 course in Fanling.

“I feel very comfortable playing in certain areas of the world and this is one of them. And generally when I feel comfortable I play well,” said Montgomerie.

“I am obviously looking forward to trying to defend the title. I have defended a few tournaments before and I would like to do it again here, very much so. I haven’t won for a year now and that’s the first year that I haven’t won within a year. I want to change that in a hurry and a win here just in time for the calendar year.

“We have a good field this year with Michael Campbell, Retief Goosen, KJ Choi and a number of top Asian players now who are able to win. Before we had 10 or 15 people capable of winning at the start of the week and now we have 25 or 30 capable of winning so therefore it is more difficult. Especially here, ten of those additional 15 are Asians and I couldn’t say that ten years ago. That’s good for the Asian region and says a lot for the ability of the local players,” he added.

Soaking in the beauty of the city in his first ever visit to Hong Kong, South African Goosen will be hoping to have an enjoyable experience competing in his fourth straight tournament.

“I have started hitting the ball better. Not making the putts I would like to make. But I am looking forward to this week. Hopefully some good experience here this week. I have heard a lot of good things about the golf course,” said Goosen.

“It doesn’t matter where you play around the world, you have to pull out your best golf to win. And 20 years ago you may have said it was a walkover but not any more. Golf worldwide is so strong now. This week once again it is a strong field and will have to play some of your best golf to win. They (Asian players) are not going to give it to you on a plate that’s for sure,” he said.

Choi, who won the 2006 Chrysler Championship last month, cast a warning to the other players not to be deceived by the 6,703 yards course as he will be out using every single club in his bag to challenge for title.

“The fact that the course is long or short, is not important. What’s important is a course that allows a player to use every single club in the bag. The Hong Kong Golf Club makes you do that,” said Choi.

“Every hole is very special. Some holes, if you fly it over the green, it’s trouble. If you land short, it rolls back down. You have to think about every hole. You have to be smart about what club to use. The set-up around the green is challenging. There are not many courses out there where it challenges a player to use every club in the bag. This course is one of the great few which makes me think. The player able to use every club in the bag effectively is going to end up winning this tournament,” he said.

The UBS Hong Kong Open is a co-sanctioned event between the Asian and European Tours.

November 15, 2006