A number of the big names have confirmed their attendance at this year’s Venetian Macao Open including two-time winner Scott Hend, Major Winner and Team Europe Ryder Cup Captain, Darren Clarke, 2014 Venetian Macao Open Champion Anirban Lahiri, and orld number 13 Branden Grace.
After winning in 2013, Hend regained his title last year, defeating then-defending champion Anirban Lahiri of India by three shots with an impressive final round of five-under-par 66 on the final day. This year it will be his turn to defend the title and see if he can make it three wins in Macau.
“The Venetian Macao Open is one of my favourite stops on the Asian Tour and a tournament that I always seem to play my best,” says the 42-year-old Australian, who had his second tour win this year in the Queen’s Cup in Thailand, and has also won the True Thailand Classic and has had three top-10 finishes. “The field there is always tough and I am stoked to have come away with two victories and one runner-up finish over the last three years.”
In big news, Darren Clarke has announced that he is making his long overdue return to Macau after a 17 year hiatus. The 48-year-old from Northern Ireland will be playing at the Venetian Macao Open just two weeks after leading a European challenge at Hazeltine in the Ryder Cup 2016. Macau will likely be Clarke’s first competitive outing after the Ryder Cup, requiring a notable switch in mental approach from being team leader and master tactician to competing alongside fellow professionals as a lone golfer.
“I’m looking forward to returning to play at this year’s Venetian Macao Open. The tournament comes shortly after the Ryder Cup campaign which will be a very intense period, so will be looking forward to getting back out on course and playing for myself,” says Clarke who over his long career has had one Major victory, two World Golf Championship wins and a further 14 International victories.
“It will also feel like new ground for me as it has been so long, and just goes to show that even at my age, there are still plenty of new challenges out there! I remember it as a great event and no doubt it is at a completely different level now. I will make sure I prepare well so I am ready to take on the best on the Asian Tour and put on a good show.”
Last year’s runner-up and 2104 champion Anirban Lahiri, has also confirmed his attendance: “The Venetian Macao Open is one of my favourite stops on tour. Scott Hend and I always bring the best out of each other in Macau. Scott has had a great run in previous years and I hope to even the score this year with a solid performance. We have had intense battles the last two years on Sunday afternoon and I expect the same this year.”
South African Branden Grace, who has risen over 100 places in the world rankings after a solid season that includes two tournament wins and two top-five finishes at Majors, is excited to be making his debut in Macao. The 28-year-old said:
“I am very much looking forward to going to Macao and competing there for the first time. Scott (Hend) has proven to be almost unbeatable the last few years. Together with the top Asian players, there will be a good mix of high quality golfers to compete against, so I am going to make sure I am ready, keep performing well and hopefully continue to climb the rankings”.
The talented international field of players will compete over four rounds of stroke play, featuring a halfway cut, at the Macau Golf & Country Club. The Venetian Macao Open is jointly organised by Sports Bureau of Macao SAR Government (MSB) and the Golf Association of Macau. It is sanctioned by both the Asian Tour and the Golf Association of Macau, and promoted by IMG.