Taking on a star-studded field The defending champ will be put to the test by top players from European and Asian tours. Reports by Adam Main.

(From South China Morning Post)

AN ALL-STAR field made up of former Major winners, Ryder Cup stars and the best of the European and Asian Tours will be chasing defending champion Padraig Harrington as the 46th Omega Hong Kong Open tees off in Fanling today.

The US$800,000 event, a joint sanctioned tournament between the European and the Asian tours, will be contested on the Hong Kong Golf Club's par-70, 6,749-yard Composite Course, its championship layout made up of holes from the Eden and New courses.

Harrington, the world number six, comes into Hong Kong fresh off an appearance at last week's Korean Golf Championship and the World Golf Championships-World Cup in Spain. He captured last year's Hong Kong Open in spectacular fashion when he overcame an out-of-bounds shot on the 10th hole during the final round to post birdies on the final two holes and overtake Hennie Otto to win by one shot.

"I didn't get upset on 10 - everyone makes mistakes on Sunday - it's how you deal with them. I was delighted with the way I performed under pressure," Harrington wrote of the win on his website. …