The Hong Kong Open "is likely to be played in October next year as organisers try to make the event more attractive to potential title sponsors by returning to a choice slot in the European Tour's Race to Dubai," according to Alvin Sallay of the SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST.
Miguel Angel Jimenez, who won his fourth Hong Kong Open title on Sunday at Fanling, "let slip after his triumph that he would be back 'earlier next year' to defend his crown, confirming talk at Hong Kong Golf Club over the weekend that the oldest professional sporting event in town would be moved to a prime slot in the calendar." Hong Kong Golf Association CEO Tom Phillips said, "Nothing is confirmed. We are talking to all parties including the European and Asian Tours about a date change. We will be sitting down soon to see what options are available to us." It is widely believed that organizers "are looking at slotting in the tournament before two major tournaments in Shanghai next year -- the BMW Masters and the HSBC Champions which will be played back-to-back at the end of October, early November when the world's best players will be in the region" (SCMP, 12/9).
