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MUMBAI: The Golfing world heads to Shanghai, and for Asia , playing host to a World Golf Championships event is massive! The event, which was called the HSBC Champions, has gained World Golf Championships status, and has been elevated to this new level. Ten Sports will beam live pictures from the event, which promises to showcase some of the best golfing talent in the world. (Please check schedule) The WGC events are considered to be just one step below the `Majors?.
2009 will be earmarked as a historic year for Asian Golf, not only for playing a big part in the globalization of the game, but also in producing world class champions. 37 year old Korean YE Yang became the first Asian player to win a major event, when he won the US PGA Championship at Hazeltine in August, warding off stiff competition, including world no. 1 Tiger Woods. Three years ago he won the event as a relative unknown, but this time around, as he attempts to become the first player to win the WGC-HSBC Champions twice, all eyes will be on him.
Alongside Yang, the Asian challenge for the WGC-HSBC Champions will be bolstered by an impressive cast of champions from across the continent. Japan will provide the precocious talent of 18 year old Ryo Ishikawa alongside established stars, Daisuke Maruyama, Shingo Katayama and Yuta Ikeda. The experienced Jeev Milkha Singh ? a winner of 18 tournaments around the globe ? spearheads the Indian challenge while another seasoned campaigner, Thongchai Jaidee, leads the quest to take the title to Thailand. The locals will come out in large numbers to spur on the Asians as also their local heroes, the Chinese duo of Zhang Lian-wei and his fellow countryman Liang Wen-chong.
Sergio Garcia won the HSBC Champions last year and will look to win it again at the Sheshan International Golf Club. He will be joined by an elite group of golfers spearheaded by world number one, Tiger Woods and the ever-charismatic Phil Mickelson. There is no doubt that the fans at the WGC HSBC Champions will be treated to magical golf.
