David Lipsky, Anirban Lahiri to Cross Swords in Macau, Hong Kong

American David Lipsky and India's Anirban Lahiri will resume their battle for the prestigious Asian Tour's Order of Merit crown at the upcoming Hong Kong Open and Macau Open. The top-two ranked golfers on the region's premier Tour have committed to play in both tournaments, which will offer a combined US$2.2 million in prize money. Lahiri and Lipsky will be joined by many world-class stars including Ernie Els and Miguel Angel Jimenez in what is poised to be a thrilling two-week swing on the Asian Tour.

Lipsky leads the Merit list with USD 665,725, thanks largely to an impressive victory at the Omega European Masters in Switzerland last month while Lahiri trails in second place with USD 342,689.

The Indian star, victorious at Indonesian Masters in April, knows the magnitude of the challenge ahead and believes he needs to secure a second victory of the season to have a chance of becoming Asia's new number one, a title won previously by compatriots Arjun Atwal, Jyoti Randhawa and Jeev Milkha Singh.

"I'm looking forward to both Hong Kong and Macau. I came close in Macau last year, played well in the last round (with a course-record tying 62 to finish second). Last year in Hong Kong, it was the first time that I played really well to finish tied 12th. I seem to have found my place in Fanling and got the clubbing right. I'm feeling positive going back to Hong Kong," said Lahiri.

The USD 1.3 million Hong Kong Open, jointly sanctioned with The European Tour, will be played at the Hong Kong Golf Club from October 16 to 19 while the full-field USD 900,000 Macau Open will be played at the Macau Golf and Country Club from October 23 to 26.