The 2018 season tees off this week at the UBS Hong Kong Open, where five South Africans led by Dylan Frittelli will aim to challenge Justin Rose and Sergio Garcia for the title.
A star-studded field gathers in the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong this week for the opening tournament of the 2018 Race to Dubai, and all eyes will be on the man who will step on to the tee as the European Tour’s No 1, Tommy Fleetwood.
The Englishman narrowly edged out his compatriot Justin Rose in a thrilling battle in Dubai last week to top the season-long standings, and seal his first Race to Dubai crown, and both will be in action again at Hong Kong GC. Rose, who is in some of the best form of his career, having won two of his last three events, will be brimming with confidence about returning to a course where he triumphed just two years ago.
Joining last season’s European No 1 and 2 in the field, and playing in Hong Kong for the first time in his career is reigning Masters Champion Sergio Garcia, who also enjoyed a strong season last campaign, finishing in fourth place in the Race to Dubai.
The South African charge is led by Dylan Frittelli, who finished inside the top 20 on the moneylist after top fives in Turkey and Dubai. The 27-year-old is the ninth-highest ranked player in the field, and will be looking for a strong start in his second full season on the European Tour.
Compatriot Erik van Rooyen, who won the PGA Championship at the Eye of Africa earlier in the year, will hope to replicate Frittelli’s rookie form – he finished second to Jon Rahm in the Rookie of the Year race – as he starts on the tour as a fully-fledged member following his graduation from the Challenge Tour.
Thomas Aiken, Keith Horne and Jbe Kruger complete the Saffa interest this week. Sam Brazel returns to defend his title, and he is joined by a number of former winners of this event, including the fan favourite and four-time tournament winner Miguel Angel Jiménez, as well as Scott Hend and Frenchman Grégory Bourdy.
