Tricky greens and difficult rough hint at testing times to come as battle for major places and prestigious title goes down to the wire

Fanling has finally bared its teeth and there will be an 18-hole shoot-out on Sunday that hopefully proves worthy of the rich rewards awaiting the Link Hong Kong Open champion.

It should be a five-star affair as well, with a leaderboard heavy on LIV Golf talent and the strong possibility of a home golfer winning for the first time.

Tied at the top on 14-under-par sit John Catlin, Thomas Pieters, Anirban Lahiri and Caleb Surratt, while Kalle Samooja, once of Cleeks GC and owner of a third-round 63, and Hongkonger Matthew Cheung are two shots back.

Even the likes of Nick Voke, on 11 under, and the trio of Chase Koepka, Sampson Zheng and MJ Viljoen at 10 under will fancy their chances of claiming a spot at the Masters and the 155th Open Championship alongside a healthy winner’s cheque, even if there is every indication of a sterner test than in days gone by.