The Johnnie Walker Classic was first played in 1990 at the Royal Hong Kong Golf Club, Fanling, and was won by England’s Nick Faldo, the world number two at the time.

A sensational triumvirate of top stars have secured the Johnnie Walker Classic trophy twice; Faldo (1990 & 1993), Tiger Woods (1998 & 2000) and Ernie Els (1997 & 2003)

The youngest winner of the event is Woods at 22 years old in 1998 when he stole the title from under the nose of his archrival Els at the Blue Canyon Club, Phuket, whilst the oldest winner is the current defending champion, Miguel Angel Jimenez, who had just turned 40 when he won in Bangkok, Thailand in 2004.

The record for the biggest final round comeback by a winner was set by Woods in 1998, when he shot a 7-under 65 to overturn an 8-shot deficit and steal the silverware from Els in a sudden-death play-off.

The only other play-off in the history of the Johnnie Walker Classic was in 1996 when Welshman Ian Woosnam beat Scotland’s Andrew Coltart at the Tanah Merah Country Club in 1996.

In the event’s 14-year history, there have been hole-in-ones from Sweden’s Matt Lanner in 1992, Englishman Peter Baker in 2001 and Mardan Mamat from Singapore in 2003. Players in the 2005 field will no doubt try and emulate these feats as the £60,000 ‘Blue Celebration’ diamond and sapphire necklace will once again be on offer for the pro who records an ace on one par 3, Johnnie Walker Blue Label-designated hole.

The 2003 Johnnie Walker champion, Els, boasts the lowest 72-hole score for the tournament with his 29-under-par 259 over the Lake Karrinyup course in Perth, Western Australia.

Els’ final round six-under-par 66 gave him a 10-stroke victory over Australians Stephen Leaney and Andre Stolz and broke the record for the lowest winning four-round total on the European, Australasian and Asian PGA Tours.

Els is the only wire-to-wire winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic, which he achieved in 2003 at Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

However Ernie has given himself the best chance by playing in 11 of the 14 events staged!