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LIV Golf’s Cam Smith to head field of ‘global stars’ as Hong Kong Open returns for first time since Covid-19 pandemic

  • Taichi Kho, present at announcement, and defending champion Wade Ormsby also to attend tournament in November
  • Smith unable to make Zoom appearance at announcement, as Hurricane Idalia knocks out power in his Florida home

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Cameron Smith of Australia will return to Fanling for the first time since 2014. Photo: Asian Tour.

Promising the strongest field in the tournament’s long and storied history, Hong Kong Open officials launched November’s event on Thursday by announcing that Cameron Smith would be headlining it.

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Taichi Kho and defending champion Wade Ormsby will also take part, and with a number of other big-name players expected to be at Hong Kong Golf Club, organisers said a “wonderful field of global stars” would be in attendance.

And if the ninth stop on the International Series is anything like the ones preceding it, then spectators could get to watch the likes of Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood up close once again.

A tournament that has attracted some of the game’s biggest names in the past will resume its association with Asian Tour, whose chief operating officer David Rollo was on hand for the announcement.

One person missing, however, was Smith. The Australian had been expected to make an appearance via Zoom from his home in Florida, but Hurricane Idalia, which has been battering the state, knocked out all power in the area.

Taichi Kho (third from left) makes an appearance at the Hong Kong Open announcement. Photo: Jonathan Wong
Taichi Kho (third from left) makes an appearance at the Hong Kong Open announcement. Photo: Jonathan Wong

The 151st Open Championship winner is no stranger to Fanling though, having played there in his only season on the Asian Tour in 2014, and in prepared remarks said he was “excited to be returning”.

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