No side before had rallied to win on the last day after trailing for three days, further cementing the reputation of Tiger Woods, who went undefeated in his three matches.
International team captain Ernie Els is keen to "kick the asses" of Tiger Woods and his United States teammates at the Presidents Cup.
Gaganjeet Bhullar made par on the final hole to give him his ninth win on the Asian tour.
Gaganjeet Bhullar showed excellent scrambling with just one bogey to go with four birdies in round three.
South Africa's Ernie Els said his signature design in the Middle East will offer the Asian Tour stars like India's Anirban Lahiri and Gaganjeet Bhullar, David Lipsky of the United States and Sweden's Daniel Chopra a challenging test.
South Africa's Ernie Els led the $1.3 million Hong Kong Open at the halfway stage but his challenge faltered over the final two rounds as the injury began to take its toll.
Four-time major winner Ernie Els shot a five-under-par 65 to lie on nine-under, two strokes ahead of the chasing pack at the co-sanctioned European/Asian Tour event in the southern Chinese city.
Ernie Els last played in Hong Kong 18 years ago and he is eager to stop Miguel Angel Jimenez and India's Anirban Lahiri from winning the Hong Kong Open for a record fifth time.
Joining Ernie Els will be four-time Hong Kong Open winner Miguel Angel Jimenez, who will attempt to win the tournament for an unprecedented third time in-a-row.
Golf legend Ernie Els said injury-hit Tiger Woods, far from looking at the embers of his career at 38, was still capable of returning to the very top of world golf at the expense of Rory McIlroy.