Hong Kong feeling like home for Cameron Tringale, Andy Ogletree

LIV Golf will be teeing off in China for the first time ever this week, but a handful of players on the Saudi-funded upstart tour will need no introduction.

Among them are Cameron Tringale, who has already reached fan-favorite status over in southeast Asia ahead of this week's LIV Golf Hong Kong at Hong Kong Golf Club. Tringale has played in Malaysia numerous times, and the California native hasn't been shy on the road.

"It's very flattering, for one," Tringale said on Thursday (local time) of the support he has received in the area. "I'm perplexed as to why there's such popularity here. I've always enjoyed my trips here. I find the culture and the people just very friendly, so I try and reflect that when I'm here and say hello.

"I don't think it's much more than that. I've played well a few times, but yeah, just trying to bring some smiles to people here when we're playing."

Andy Ogletree made a name for himself on the Asian Tour, picking up three titles during the International Series. He won at Egypt in 2022 and prevailed at Qatar and England in 2023, using his success on the tour as a jumping-off point to reach LIV.

"I'm super thankful for the Asian Tour and all that they provided for me, giving me somewhere to play, giving me somewhere to show the world what I can do," Ogletree said. "To be on LIV Golf now is super rewarding, and I'm so thankful for the guys hitting next to me to push me every day to keep getting better and better."

Ogletree was named the No. 1 player on the Asian Tour last year and received his trophy for that achievement at Hong Kong Golf Club.

"I've never been more excited to finish 12th in a golf tournament in my entire life. But yeah, we were popping champagne beside the 18th green, my caddie Mike and I, and we actually went to Macau for a celebration that night," Ogletree said. "Some great memories around this place. ... This is a special place for me, and this is the place that officially got me on to LIV Golf for this season."

Fond memories of playing in China also sit with Phil Mickelson, who is a two-time winner of the HSBC Champions at Sheshan Golf Club in Shanghai. He prevailed in 2007 and 2009.

But rather than reliving the past, Mickelson is more focused on what this week's event means for the future.

"I think that (Hong Kong) has had great growth in the game of golf and the ability to bring some of the best players in the world here to compete and hopefully inspire a lot of young players and for people to see the best players in the world will hopefully continue growing and pushing the game forward here in the area," Mickelson said. "Because it's a huge growth opportunity for the game of golf."