UBS Hong Kong Open: three things to watch on day four

Keeping it real

Sixteen years as a pro, 18 titles, and three Asian Tour Orders of Merit. Thai veteran Thongchai Jaidee carries with him the air of a man who has seen and done it all. A six-under 64  Saturday – to leave him at nine-under and well in contention - show the 45-year-old still brings plenty of game with him as he tours the golf courses of the world. His level-headed approach to the game should – and does – provide an inspiration, as witnessed when ask for the game plan as we turn to the business end of the US$2 million UBS Hong Kong Open. “It’s simple,” he said. “Tee, fairway, green. That’s my game.”

Pan’s labyrinth

The many and varied mysteries of the game must have baffled rising Taiwanese star Pan Cheng-tsung this week. Going into Sunday he’s carrying a card that reads five-under, three-over, three-under and there have been bogeys as each round closes. That might suggest the 23-year-old needs a little more work on his concentration as much as his fitness but the early signs are that the island nation has a new hero emerging. Pan made the cut at the US Open this year, and claimed his first pro victory on the PGA Tour of Canada at the Players Cup in July, following it up with the Cape Breton Celtic Classic title in September.

Learning the ropes

Final-day heroics are nothing new for 26-year-old Jason Scrivener. After all he moved up 31 places on the final day of qualifying for the European Tour with a 66 that was enough to clinch the 18th and last spot available for this season. The South African-born, Australia-based player says the 12 months since have provided a steep learning curve as he’s had to adapt to his first year on Tour, far from home and almost constantly on the move. At 140th in the Race to Dubai coming in to Hong Kong, it was always going to be a big ask for Scrivener to make the final cut but four top-20 finishes for the year – and Saturday’s 65 that left him at nine-under – showed he just might be one for the future.