"I benefited from my fair share of luck last year but it was a real honour to see my name go on the trophy alongside Peter Thomson, Tom Watson, Ian Woosnam, Jose Maria Olazabal and some of Asia's best players," Montgomerie told the European Tour's website.

South African James Kingston was one stroke ahead of the eight-times European number one on the 72nd tee at Fanling last December before carding a double-bogey six at the final hole.

Montgomerie is now looking to emulate the feat of Taiwan's Hsieh Yung Yo, who won the tournament in 1963 and 1964, but the 43-year-old Briton faces stiff opposition in the second event on the 2006-07 European Tour schedule.

World number five Retief Goosen and former U.S. Open winner Michael Campbell will be keen to improve on their joint third-place finishes at Sunday's Champions Tournament in Shanghai.

"I played in Hong Kong three or four years ago and finished in the top 10," said New Zealander Campbell. "My form is good at the moment."

Goosen will be making his debut in the tournament.

European Tour players have won the past seven editions of the Hong Kong Open, which is also sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

Leading the quest for an Asian victory will be four-times PGA Tour winner KJ Choi of South Korea, Volvo Masters champion Jeev Milkha Singh of India and China's top player Wen Chong Liang.

The first round of the $2 million event is on Thursday.