Lin Wen-Tang aims high for the UBS Hong Kong Open
Lin Wen-Tang of Chinese Taipei has set his sights on winning the UBS Hong Kong Open for the second time in his career, when he tees off this week at the Hong Kong Golf Club, on Thursday, November 15, 2012.
The tournament is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the European Tour, offering a purse of US$2 million.
Wen-Tang was the last Asian player to lift the prestigious trophy, when he defeated the current world number one Rory McIlroy, and Francesco Molinari in the 2008 playoffs.
Since then, not a single Asian player emerged as a winner in the longest-running sporting event in Hong Kong.
Wen-Tang is now relishing the opportunity to return to the site of his fourth victory on the Asian Tour.
"Hong Kong is after all a Chinese country and as a Chinese, this place has given me lots of wonderful memories especially with my win in 2008," said Lin.
He also said that he will have to tweak his short game, in order to record another victory in the tournament.
"I'll always remember that winning putt on the second play-off hole that year. It never fails to bring a smile to my face, each time I recall those magical moments. It’s only my putting that needs work. I missed a lot of short putts last week and hopefully
I can putt better at this golf course which I’ve won before,” added Lin.
Talking to the Asian Tour’s official website, he also stated that the Asian players will have to step up and bring the glory back to their continent once again.
Rory McIlroy, in the meantime, kept on contending for victory after losing to Wen-Tang in 2008. He recorded another runner-up position in 2009, and was placed sixth on the leaderboard in, 2010.
He then bounced back strongly with a victory in the 53rd edition of the tournament in, 2011. On the back of a decent run of form this season, he is no doubt one of the hot favourites to land the tournament this week.
The Northern Irishman has won four times this season on the US PGA Tour, and was named as the PGA of America Player of the Year.
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