Asia's Golf Major

SPORTS

Asia's Golf Major

Golf
Thursday, 24 September 2009 02:09
Written by Phil Boyle

The World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions Golf arrives on November 5 - 8

(Images by WGC-HSBC Champions / Getty Images)

The big man is back. To the non-golfing-anorak, a golf tournament without Tiger Woods is like a Virgin Mary: sure, it has the taste of a Bloody Mary but it’s just doesn’t have the kick. It’s like swimming with no Phelps, tennis without Federer, a 100-meters without Bolt, or Take That with no Robbie, er… Well fear not, after a two-year absence for a baby and new knee, Tiger Woods returns to Shanghai. It’s a tournament he is yet to win and in a year where he’s left the Golf Majors empty-handed, could this be his time? Not if his challengers have anything to do with it. Often referred to as “Asia’s Major,” the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions has it’s strongest field ever, and with Asian golf flying after Korean Y.E. Yang’s win at the PGA Championships (Asia’s first Major winner) it’s garnered a huge worldwide profile.

The World Golf Championships
Classed as the leading golf tournaments in the world after the four majors, it’s the first time the HSBC Champions in Shanghai has been raised to this level. With four events this year, it’s the only one outside of the U.S. – big up to Shanghai indeed.

How it works
Simple. Shoot a lower score than the rest of the field in four rounds over four days. Then cash your check and head to the beach.

Who will be there?
The crème de la crème of the golfing world. There is USD 7 million in the prize pot after all. Around 80 players from the six major golf tours of the world will be on hand, plus winners of any big tournament in the last couple of years. Hence the name ‘Champions’… But who? Well, the big draw card is a certain Tiger Woods, but it’s a ram-packed field of names: world number two Phil Mickelson, number three Paul Casey, last year’s winner Sergio Garcia, the list goes on.

The Venue
There’s no better-looking golf course in the Shanghai area than the lush greenery of Sheshan International Golf Club, with annoying streams and fast greens providing a few obstacles. Holes 16 and 17 are the best spectacle, as players circumnavigate a quarry – on the final round you can expect players to drive over the top for the green on the par 4 16th. Then the final par 5 18th has seen many fall foul of the water on the right of the green – where the tournament is won and lost.

Click here to see the full course guide.

The “In the hole”-giddy masses will follow Tiger Woods around, but if you skip a few holes ahead of the leaders you can pretty much have a chat with the players as they tee-off. Then hang around and wait for the big guns to follow.

How to get there
You can’t get much better than Metro line 9 that just about takes you to the entrance of the course at the Sheshan station. By car leave Shanghai by the A9 to the Sheshan / Zhao Xing Exit to South Jia Song Lu where you can then just follow the signs for the event along Linyin Xin Lu.

The HSBC Champions golf takes place at Sheshan International Golf Club at the beginning of next month from 5-8 November. Tickets are available through That’s Shanghai. Call the hotline on 400-820-8428 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Adults are RMB 500 for Thursday or Friday and RMB 1,000 for Saturday or Sunday. It’s free for anyone under 18.