Flying the flag: Kathryn with former Masters champion Mike Weir at the 2008 UBS Hong Kong Open. "Over the period of our sponsorship of the UBS Hong Kong Open, the tournament has helped develop significant brand familiarity and favourability for UBS among the public in Hong Kong and beyond."
Do you see the event's position in the European Tour schedule – directly before the Dubai World Championship and after the Champions event in Shanghai and the Singapore Open – a help or a hindrance? The UBS Hong Kong Open’s position in the calendar in advance of the Dubai World Championship is a great asset as the players are extremely motivated to attend and to perform at their absolute peak to progress in the race to Dubai. Which has been your favourite UBS Hong Kong Open of the five that you have been personally involved with?
This is an impossible question. There have been too many exciting moments over the tournaments that I have been lucky enough to attend. But if pressed, I would probably choose the 50th anniversary of the event [2008] with its nail-biting finish. Having said that, I fully expect this year’s Open to be the best ever and am really looking forward to the tee off. Five years ago this magazine featured an interview with you and at the time you were a 19-handicapper struggling to find time to play. Has that changed – and if so, where are you playing most of your golf? I am afraid that my handicap has widened to 22 since then. While I try and play between four and six times a month, work commitments and a demanding travel schedule ensure that I remain a weekend golfer. I have been lucky enough to have played at some of the most demanding and beautiful courses in the world. I particularly enjoy playing on the Eden Course at the Hong Kong Golf Club and at Discovery Bay. When did you start playing golf? My first sporting passion was tennis but around 10 years ago the golfing bug bit with a vengeance. My siblings have played golf since they were young so it has become very much a family affair. What would you say are the strengths of your game? In light of the increasing difficulty I have in finding the time to get on course, my efforts these days are primarily dedicated to ensuring that the standard of my game does not go into freefall. I certainly need to spend more time on the driving range. In your opinion, what would make for a perfect UBS Hong Kong Open this year? Every year of the UBS Hong Kong Open brings new challenges. Each year, we seek to improve the experience for our clients and employees both at the event and in the lead up. I am confident that we will be offering an even better hospitality experience this year than ever before. I am also proud that the UBS Hong Kong Open has developed a strong reputation among golfing professionals on both the European and Asian Tours. One of our primary goals is to ensure that the players enjoy their experience. In terms of attendance, I hope to see even more families attend, as UBS is committed to helping developing the game in Hong Kong, an integral part of which is introducing the game to new audiences.
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HK Golfer・OCT/NOV 2010
HKGOLFER.COM