The race to end a marathon season as the top players in Europe and Asia enters the final stretch this week with plenty at stake in the UBS Hong Kong Open.

The tournament in Fanling is the penultimate event of the long European year, along with the Australian Masters in Melbourne, before the top 60 head to the season-ending $7.5-million Dubai World Championship.

With so much money on the line, it is there that the European number one will likely be crowned, but a good finish in Hong Kong is critical with $2.5-million to play for.

England's Lee Westwood and Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, the men currently occupying the first two places in The Race to Dubai, headline the field.

The duo both finished in the top eight in last week?s enthralling WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, with McIlroy's stunning closing 63 helping him to fourth place.

The finish saw him leapfrog Germany's Martin Kaymer into second spot and to within $78 360 of leader Westwood.

McIlroy, in particular, will be hoping to go one better than last year, when he was beaten in a play-off by Taiwan's Lin Wen-Tang.

"Although unfortunately I came up just short last year, playing in Hong Kong was a wonderful experience and I thoroughly enjoyed four days of great golf," said the Irish star.

"It is a strong field once again, and I?ll be doing my utmost to go one better this time."

'It will suit my game'

World number four Westwood has enjoyed plenty of success in Asia in the past with victories in Japan, Malaysia and Macau, but he will be making his first appearance in Hong Kong.

"I?m delighted to be making my debut in the UBS Hong Kong Open," said the Englishman.

"I?ve heard great things about the tournament from the other players, and it promises to be a fantastic week.

"I understand Fanling is a tight, old-style course which places a lot of emphasis on accuracy, so hopefully it will suit my game and I can put on a good show for the fans.

"Asia has been kind to me in the past, and it would be wonderful if I could post another victory in the region."

Others Europeans currently in the top 10 of the Race to Dubai looking to make up ground this week include England's Ian Poulter, Oliver Wilson and Simon Dyson, but Paul Casey is injured and has withdrawn.

The tournament is not just about who becomes the European number one with the Asian Tour merit race also on a knife-edge with Thailand's Thongchai Jaidee and China's Liang Wenchong battling for honours.

The Chinese ace knows that anything less than a second place finish will end his hopes as he currently trails Thongchai by $197 000 and only two more events, with small prize purses in Cambodia and Thailand, left to play.

Victory in Hong Kong is worth $416 660.

Thongchai has finished runner-up in Hong Kong previously while Liang has posted several top-20 finishes.

"I?m looking forward to Hong Kong. I?m thinking about it as I have a good chance to finish off the Asian Tour Order of Merit. It?s going to be another big event with many big names there," said the Thai.

"I know the course well in Hong Kong. I?m just going to think about my own game. I?m feeling confident."