Hong Kong Open: Bubba Watson, Patrick Reed top strong field also aiming for spots at majors
The Masters winners are among 20 LIV golfers who will play at November’s International Series stop in Fanling, but ‘local spots’ will be protected
Bubba Watson and defending champion Patrick Reed will headline a Link Hong Kong Open field that could be the strongest in the tournament’s history now that places in two majors are on the line.
The addition of the event to Masters and Open Championship qualifying was the “talk of the clubhouse” on the Asian Tour last week, according to Taichi Kho, who will also be playing in his home tournament.
Almost 20 LIV golfers have submitted entries for November’s International Series stop in Fanling, and that could climb to as high as 23 in a field that earlier this year was expanded from 132 to 138 spots.
Former Hong Kong Open champion Ian Poulter and 2025 Masters runner-up Justin Rose are rumoured to be interested in taking part, with Hong Kong Golf Club also able to invite some players.
But the field will not be flooded with the game’s biggest names at the expense of Tour members, according to David Rollo, its chief operating officer.
“One thing the International Series has always done is look after local spots,” Rollo said. “We want to make sure we’ve got that local content and that remains and that won’t change.