HSBC Champions

[kompressaur]

There is another mouthwatering event this week as a tremendous field gets together in Shanghai for a fifth renewal of the HSBC Champions at Sheshan International Golf Club.

World number one Tiger Woods is the star attraction on his return to individual action after finishing second in the Tour Championship in late September and he bids to win the event for a first time having had to settle for second place behind David Howell in 2005 and YE Yang a year later.

Since chasing home Phil Mickelson at East Lake, Woods led from the front with Steve Stricker as he posted a perfect five from five record in the USA's comfortable win in the Presidents Cup.

With the status of this event now being elevated to a World Golf Championship - which Tiger already has a notable collection of - I am sure he will be raring to go once again.

Ian Poulter was rather overlooked last week on his return to action in Singapore but the Englishman showed plenty of determination to take the title.

His cause was probably not helped by the numerous interruptions due to the weather but he showed what a competitor he can be on the final day as fought back from four dropped shots mid-round to cling on by a shot at the finish.

An ultra-aggressive approach has been his undoing at times but it finally paid off and now the confidence is up, he is in little doubt about what he can do between now and drawing stumps at the end of the year.

"I feel like I have better things to come in the next few weeks for sure," he said.
"I have had six weeks off, I definitely got rid of the cobwebs this week. When I am hitting the ball well out there I am hitting it as good as I ever have."

Poulter once famously claimed that he was the only player around to challenge the dominance of Woods and this could be the week against some quality opposition where he starts to justify a statement like that while pushing himself upward in the Race To Dubai and into the top 10 in the world.

Second pick this week goes Sweden's Peter Hanson, who has endured a frustrating couple of weeks in a bid to secure his place in the field.

Without boring everyone with the details, he was originally in, then out and back in again after Ross Fisher's win in the World Match Play ensured it was him and not the next non-exempt player in the world rankings that was offered a coveted spot.

Things outside a sportsman's control can indeed have an influence on the outcome of events - look at James Kingston's win in Germany two months ago when he hadn't even intended to play - and I would not be surprised to see fate take a hand once more with Hanson taking his opportunity.

He shows up boasting some excellent form and his third place here 12 months ago illustrates he has no fears in terms of what this course can offer.

The 66/1 available with Ladbrokes stands out.

In such a strong line-up, nothing short of your best game is going to work and for the vast majority a personal best is going to be required.

One player who has been on an upward curve all year is the impressive Francesco Molinari and he rates another chance to continue his recent excellent work.

He played some sublime stuff on his last outing in Portugal and but for a cold putter and inspired Lee Westwood on Sunday, he would have a thoroughly deserved title to his name in 2009.

What increases his possibilities is his excellent record as well in the Far East.
He posted a top 10 here last year while he has three other top eight results in China and Hong Kong.

He matches the 66/1 offered on Hanson and merits plenty of respect both here and next week at Fanling.

Talking of players with eyecatching records in the Far East, Scott Strange looks overpriced at 200/1.

He has bags of playing time in that part of the world from his stint on the Asian Tour and his latest outing there on the European Tour yielded a victory at the China Open in April.

The HSBC Champions has never been the most profitable event for him as he has a best effort so far of T33 in 2008 but I reckon he can improve greatly on that on this occasion.

He is never going to be the most extravagant but did quietly catch the eye with his form at the World Match Play where he won two matches - including beating finalist Anthony Kim by three holes - so looks to have regained some form after a couple of missed cuts in strokeplay events.

He certainly rates the pick from those priced up at long odds

UPBEAT POULTER TO STRIKE AGAIN: Golf Betting News - Golf Betting News, Previews and Tips, Tiger Woods