BlogHSBC Champions Preview and Picks

HSBC Champions

November 5th – 8th, 2015

Sheshen International G.C.

Shanghai,, China

Par: 72 / Yardage:

Purse: $8.5 Million

with $1,400,000 to the winner

Defending Champion:
Bubba Watson

by Sal Johnson

Founder, Chief Data Officer, GOLFstats

E-mail me at:
sal@golfstats.com

This week’s field includes:

A great field this week, best of the fall events as 36 of the top 50 in the latest Official World Rankings are in China this week. The field consists of six of the top ten; #2 Jordan Spieth, #3 Rory McIlroy, #4 Bubba Watson, #5 Rickie Fowler, #7 Henrik Stenson and #8 Dustin Johnson.  Of those between 11 and 25 there are ten players; #11 Sergio Garcia, #12 Adam Scott, #13 Louis Oosthuizen, #15 Hideki Matsuyama, #17 Shane Lowry, #18 Patrick Reed, #19 Kevin Na, #22 Branden Grace, #23 Martin Kaymer and #24 Paul Casey.  Of those from 26 to 50 there are 20 of them, probably to make sure that they stay within the top-50 by the end of the year;  #26 Danny Willett, #27 Billy Horschel, #28 Bernd Wiesberger, #29 Chris Kirk, #30 Justin Thomas, #33 Thongchai Jaidee, #34 Kevin Kisner, #36 Robert Streb, #37 Emiliano Grillo, #39 Anirban Lahiri, #40 Danny Lee, #41 Kiradech Aphibarnrat, #42 Marc Leishman, #43 Scott Piercy, #45 David Lingmerth, #46 Soren Kjeldsen, #47 Byeong Hun An, #48 Lee Westwood, #49 Daniel Berger and #50 Gary Woodland.

Last year there was 40 of the top-50 in the field, so four less.

The field includes 13 of the Top 25 on this year’s FedEx point standings for 2015.  Those players include  #1 Jordan Spieth, #3 Bubba Watson, #6 Robert Streb, #7 Dustin Johnson, #8 Patrick Reed, #9 Rory McIlroy, #10 Danny Lee, #15 Rickie Fowler, #17 Kevin Kisner, #19 Paul Casey,  #20 Hideki Matsuyama, #21 David Lingmerth and #22 Steven Bowditch.

This is the second of four stops in the Final Series playoffs on the European Tour.  The race is tight and with many looking to catch Rory McIlroy this is a great week to make up ground on him.  Only problem, this week there are many like #7 Victor Dubuisson, who weren’t qualified for the WGC event and won’t be able to participate.  For next year this will not be a problem as the WGC-HSBC Champions won’t be part of the final series, as the European Tour will reduce the number of events from four to three.  Some other top players in the Race to Dubai not playing this week are #3 Shane Lowry, #5 Justin Rose and #16 Jaco Van Zyl.

The field includes only 6 of their past champions: Bubba Watson (2014), Dustin Johnson (2013), Ian Poulter (2012), Martin Kaymer (2011), Sergio Garcia (2009, Nov.2008) and David Howell (2006).

A perfect way for fantasy golfers to check on the past performance of all the players in the WGC-HSBC Champions field is our performance chart listed by average finish. One last way to check who is the best is through a special formula worked out in Golfstats that gives us the best average performances at WGC-HSBC Champions in the last five years or check out our brand new and sortable 8-year glance at the WGC-HSBC Champions.

A good cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmakers in England.

Another cheat sheet is this list of odds from the top bookmaker in Las Vegas.

**NOTE**

One thing to look for is our new GOLFstats IQ.  For those that play in fantasy golf it’s a perfect way to help you pick those players in Draft Kings and Victiv games.  You can customize the list of those in the tournaments, to look back a couple or many years of tournament stats and you can go back a couple or ten weeks prior to the tournament.  On top of that, all the stats are fully sortable to help you pick your six players, we even give you their value for the week to help you chose.

That’s GOLFstats IQ, give it a try and tell us what you think of it

24/7 GOLF

How would you like to have Total Golf Knowledge At Your Fingertips??

We have the perfect solution for you.  If you own a Iphone or a Ipad we have developed a perfect app called 24/7 GOLF.

It gives you everything that you need to know about golf, you have all the players results and every tournament result, again at your fingertips.  It’s very easy to use and you can take a good amout of GOLFstats with you everyplace.  No need to get home and check things out on your computer at home, you can answer any question with your Ipad.

So check it out, just hit this link to get 24/7 GOLF:

Screen Shot 2015-04-23 at 12.01.34 AM

Time to look at our who’s hot and who isn’t:

Who’s Hot in the field for the HSBC Champions

Player CIMB Classic Turkish Open Shriners Hospitals Hong Kong Frys.com Portugal Masters British Masters Dunhill Links Tour Championship European Open BMW Championship Deutsche Bank The Barclays
Kevin Na
(359 pts)
T3
(90)
DNP
 
T2
(100)
DNP
 
2
(100)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T16
(34)
DNP
 
T10
(20)
T60
(0)
T20
(15)
Justin Thomas
(257.5 pts)
Win
(132)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T3
(90)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T13
(18.5)
T56
(0)
T16
(17)
Chris Wood
(246.67 pts)
DNP
 
5
(70)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
2
(100)
T9
(30)
T4
(53.33)
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Henrik Stenson
(223 pts)
T47
(3)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T2
(100)
DNP
 
T10
(20)
2
(50)
2
(50)
Patrick Reed
(204 pts)
T10
(40)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T3
(90)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
27
(23)
DNP
 
T28
(11)
T4
(40)
T62
(0)
Hideki Matsuyama
(199.5 pts)
5
(70)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T17
(33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T12
(38)
DNP
 
T7
(27.5)
T25
(12.5)
T13
(18.5)
Matthew Fitzpatrick
(195.33 pts)
DNP
 
T26
(24)
DNP
 
T3
(90)
DNP
 
DNP
 
Win
(88)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Kiradech Aphibarnrat
(183.33 pts)
DNP
 
3
(90)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T5
(46.67)
T4
(53.33)
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Soren Kjeldsen
(178.67 pts)
DNP
 
T11
(39)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T37
(13)
T2
(66.67)
T9
(30)
DNP
 
T9
(30)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Rory McIlroy
(168.5 pts)
DNP
 
T6
(60)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T26
(24)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T16
(34)
DNP
 
T4
(40)
T29
(10.5)
DNP
 
Rickie Fowler
(164 pts)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T25
(25)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T12
(38)
DNP
 
T4
(40)
Win
(66)
CUT
(-5)
Scott Piercy
(160.33 pts)
T7
(55)
DNP
 
T25
(25)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T27
(15.33)
25
(25)
DNP
 
3
(45)
CUT
(-5)
T62
(0)
Thongchai Jaidee
(149 pts)
DNP
 
T26
(24)
DNP
 
T13
(37)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Win
(88)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Bubba Watson
(145.5 pts)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T5
(70)
DNP
 
T10
(20)
T29
(10.5)
3
(45)
Daniel Summerhays
(145 pts)
T14
(36)
DNP
 
T16
(34)
DNP
 
T32
(18)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T41
(4.5)
T9
(22.5)
T6
(30)
Jordan Spieth
(140.5 pts)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Win
(132)
DNP
 
T13
(18.5)
CUT
(-5)
CUT
(-5)
Shane Lowry
(137.33 pts)
DNP
 
8
(50)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T2
(66.67)
T19
(20.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Daniel Berger
(135 pts)
T64
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T17
(33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T12
(38)
DNP
 
2
(50)
T12
(19)
CUT
(-5)
Andy Sullivan
(128 pts)
DNP
 
T60
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Win
(132)
T46
(2.67)
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Emiliano Grillo
(122 pts)
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-10)
DNP
 
Win
(132)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Danny Lee
(115 pts)
WD
(-5)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T2
(100)
DNP
 
T47
(1.5)
T33
(8.5)
T30
(10)
Dustin Johnson
(113 pts)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-10)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T5
(70)
DNP
 
T7
(27.5)
T44
(3)
T9
(22.5)
Paul Casey
(112.5 pts)
T24
(26)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T5
(70)
DNP
 
T23
(13.5)
WD
(-2.5)
T39
(5.5)
Kevin Kisner
(98.5 pts)
T37
(13)
DNP
 
T25
(25)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
28
(22)
DNP
 
T41
(4.5)
T12
(19)
T20
(15)
Adam Scott
(95 pts)
2
(100)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-5)

How Player Rankings are Computed

Who’s Not Hot in the field for the HSBC Champions

Player CIMB Classic Turkish Open Shriners Hospitals Hong Kong Frys.com Portugal Masters British Masters Dunhill Links Tour Championship European Open BMW Championship Deutsche Bank The Barclays
Richard T. Lee
(-16.67 pts)
T75
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-10)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Liang Wen-Chong
(-10 pts)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-10)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Hiroshi Iwata
(-10 pts)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T73
(0)
DNP
 
CUT
(-10)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Steven Jeffress
(-6.67 pts)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
S.S.P. Chawrasia
(-6.67 pts)
73
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T59
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
CUT
(-6.67)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Miguel A. Jimenez
(-0.67 pts)
DNP
 
T68
(0)
DNP
 
CUT
(-10)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T54
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T36
(9.33)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Danny Chia
(0 pts)
T68
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
T51
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Nick Cullen
(0 pts)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
T59
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Alex Noren
(0 pts)
DNP
 
T66
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
Danie Van Tonder
(0 pts)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
76
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
61
(0)
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 
DNP
 

How Player Rankings are Computed

The Buzz:

This is a tournament in flux right now.  When it became a WGC event in 2010 things were very different.  China was becoming a power to be in golf and a lot of money was spread around China and building golf courses.  How things have changed.  First golf is becoming extinct in China as the government is putting bans on club membership and shuttering golf course projects.  So frankly nobody knows what direction this is going other than folks are bailing out.  We don’t know what the future of this tournament is, HSBC which has sponsored this event since it began in 2005 is looking to get out.  Frankly the business end isn’t good and with golf being banned in China you don’t want to be sinking $10 to $15 million into an event that isn’t getting a return.  Next week the BMW Masters, played up the road as the third leg of the Road to Dubai won’t be renewed and dropped.  So the future of golf in China is not very good.

This is also a tournament that is hard for the average player to say no to, with a purse of $8.5 million, first place getting $1.4 million and last place paying $40,000.  It’s hard not to get on a airplane for the trip halfway around the world.  But we can see by attendance this year more than the Jason Day’s and Justin Rose are not playing.  How about guys like Zach Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Brandt Snedeker, Charley Hoffman, J.B. Holmes and Bill Haas saying no to invites.  This is a perfect example of players saying that there time is more worth staying home than getting on a airplane to participate in an event that they are liking to easily win a couple hundred dollars.  It’s gotten to that point so this tournament may not be worth it.  As I have said over the last couple of years, it’s too bad that the PGA Tour and the rest of the world golf chamnpionship members could just say no to this event and possibly take the Australian Open or the Australian Masters or Australian PGA and make that a WGC event.  There are only four WGC events a year and it’s nice that at least one of them are played outside of the United States, so we can only hope that in future years things will be different.  Five years ago China was the place to go, businesses was going their for cheap labor and with millions upon millions of Chinese getting into the same frame economically as the rest of the world, growth for golf in China looked great.  But that future is gone and for golf, it looks like another place that the game just doesn’t appeal anymore, a real shame.

On Monday evening HSBC announced that the renewed the three events that they have been sponsoring,  the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, the HSBC Women’s Champions and the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship which means multi-year extensions for the three events they sponsor.  As for the site, the LPGA HSBC Women’s Champions is in Singapore, the Abu Dhabi HSBC is in Abu Dhabi while the WGC-HSBC Champions was also redone, but we don’t know if they will stay in China or move out in the future.  Guess we have to stay tune.

Tournament Information:

This event started in 2006 and played at Sheshan Golf Club.  Because of the big purse and the event giving out appearance money, most of the top players of the time including Tiger Woods played.  Tiger came close finishing second in it’s first year as David Howell won by three shots.  The event was part of the European Tour and despite being played in November was the leadoff event for the European Tour’s wrap-around season.  So the first event was played in November of 2005 but counted for the European Tour’s 2006 season.  It continued to grow for the next three years as more marquee names went to China and in November of 2008 the European Tour started it’s 2009 season with Sergio Garcia winning.  Right after the tournament, it became part of the World Golf Championship series, which help elevate it.  At the same time, the European Tour revamped the way they ended their season, so the event in November of 2009 was included in the 2009 European Tour season.  This created the problem of the same event being played twice in the same season.  Phil Mickelson won the November 2009 HSBC and despite the PGA Tour being part of the WGC was not considered an official PGA Tour event.

The tournament went on a bizarre three-year journey.  Beginning in 2010, the HSBC Champions counted as an official PGA Tour victory and offered a three-year exemption on the PGA Tour, provided the tournament was won by a PGA Tour member. Prize money, however, did not count toward the official PGA TOUR money list, even if a PGA Tour member won the tournament. Tournament winners during this timeframe include: 2010 – Francesco Molinari (unofficial PGA Tour win); 2011 – Martin Kaymer (unofficial PGA Tour win); 2012 – Ian Poulter (official PGA Tour win).

On the final day of the 2012 event, HSBC announced renewal of its title sponsorship through 2015.  With this announcement the HSBC became part of the PGA Tour’s FedExCup schedule.  It awarded official money and FedExCup points (and a three-year exemption) beginning in 2013 (which later changed to 2014 because the Tour went to a wrap-around schedule for events ending in 2013).  Sound confusing, it is so you just have to remember one thing.  The first “official” WGC-HSBC for the PGA Tour was the one played in November of 2013, but it counted for the 2014 PGA Tour season.  So this week’s event counts on the 2016 PGA Tour season and the 2015 European Tour season.

Course information: 

  • The Sheshan Golf Club is a par-72 golf course that was designed by Robin Nelson and Neil Haworth and opened in 2004. Sheshan International Golf Club features beautiful tree-lined fairways and gentle rolling hills around 1000-year-old Gingko trees, calm waterways, and a spectacular natural quarry. Set in the shadow of the Basilica of our Lady of Sheshan Cathedral and surrounded by beautiful Italian Tuscan inspired villas, Sheshan provides a truly unique experience.  Although located in the city of Shanghai, the serene surroundings suggest a genuine feeling of seclusion and nature.
  • Featuring well-placed bunkers throughout the golf course along with, deep collection areas, beautiful water features, and undulating greens.  The natural forestation was integrated into the course design. 10,000 trees and natural foliage has been preserved. Two 1000-year-old ginko trees grace the 4th hole. 16 million cubic meters of dirt was moved to create elevation, bunkers and valleys. Sheshan provides a beautiful and challenging golf course for all, including the best Tour Professionals in the world and is considered one of the best courses in China.

Here are some of the secrets of what it takes to play well at the WGC-HSBC Champions:

Key stat for the winner:

Event will be played again at Sheshan after being played in 2012 at Mission Hills.  In the previous years held at Sheshan, there is no one stat that you can put your fingers on and say, geez this course favors such and such a player.  So we have to look at those that have played well before at Sheshan, one thing pops up.Bubba Watson had a great 2014 and five months after his China victory won the Masters in 2016.  Dustin Johnson and Ian Poulter were also very succesful before and after.  All the other champions also had the same thing going.  Look at Martin Kaymer in 2011, he had been playing well for two years, winning the PGA Championship.  In 2010, Francesco Molinari was putting the finishes touch on a great year, same with winners Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia.  So look for a player that has had a great 2013 to win this week.

Here are some more key stats to look to for this week:

One thing that is for certain, look for a high ranked player to win.  The lowest-ranked player in the Official World Golf Ranking to win the HSBC Champions was Y.E. Yang, who was No. 77 when he won the event in 2006.  Here is a look at the HSBC champions over the years and how they ranked in the world rankings prior to victory:

  • 2014, Bubba Watson, No. 7
  • 2013, Dustin Johnson, No. 23
  • 2012, Ian Poulter, No. 26
  • 2011, Martin Kaymer No. 6
  • 2010, Francesco Molinari No. 30
  • 2009, Phil Mickelson No. 2
  • 2008, Sergio Garcia No. 3
  • 2007, Phil Mickelson No. 2
  • 2006, Y.E. Yang No. 77
  • 2005, David Howell No. 19

Very interesting to see how Sheshan compared with the other courses on the PGA Tour last year.  In driving accuracy it ranked 9th, in green in regulation was 4th hardest course.  In scrambling it was 6th while in overal putting average it ranked 52nd, the easiest course on tour.  Lastly it was 5th in par 3 scoring.  Now if we use our key to course scoring, which we don’t have this week since only 34 of the 78 in the field played on the PGA Tour in 2015, you would see Jordan Spieth leading the field followed by Henrik Stenson, Bubba Watson, Kevin Na and Rickie fowler.

With tight fairways and lot’s of roll in them, accuracy is important but not a big key.  The more important factor in looking at past years is a player that can dominate the par 3s. It’s also interesting to note that last five champions at Sheshan (not including 2012 when it was played at Missing Hills) have been 10 under on the par 3s, in 2014 Bubba Watson was even par, 2013 Dustin Johnson was 4 under, 2011 Martin Kaymer was 5 under, Francisco Molinari was even par in 2010 and Phil Mickelson was 1 under in 2009.

Last week in Malaysia the weather was good even with hot muggy conditions.  Things will be totally different this week as temperatures will be in the low 70s each day and showers every day of the championship.  So look for those players that do great in poor weather conditions.

Again like we say, look for the player with the hot hand.  Those that played well at both the Turkish Airlines Open and the CIMB Classic could play well this week.

Who to watch for at the HSBC Champions

Best Bets:

Adam Scott

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
T12 8 T11 T25

Showed last week that he could return to the winners circle soon. Has played well on this course which does give an advantage to good ball striking.

Rory McIlroy

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
T6 T4 5 4

Another that plays well at Sheshan, his putting has hurt him since returning from injury but if he can get it rolling be tough to beat.

Martin Kaymer

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
T6 T8 9 Win T30 T6

Yes he has played terrible this year, but this course seems to bring the best out of him.

Best of the rest:

Bubba Watson

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
Win T8 33

Plays well on the course, that’s about all you need to know as Bubba will have a good week.

Kevin Na

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
T20

Has been on a roll the last three weeks, course will be tough for him but I believe he will play very good this week.

Ian Poulter

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
T6 2 Win T13 T13 T45 T38 T31 T19

Another that does well at Sheshan, good around the greens helps him strive here.

Thorbjorn Olesen

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
T6 T11

Another with a good record at Sheshan.

Solid contenders

Jordan Spieth

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
T35 17

Common sense says that his putting will be good enough to let him play well, but I think you will see a rusty Spieth this week.

Henrik Stenson

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
T24 T31 T13 T40 T9 T18 T32

Has been slowed down with a meniscus tear in which he is having surgery on in December, so this may not be his week.

Patrick Reed

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
T22

He finished T-10th in the CIMB after a T-3rd in the Hong Kong Open. It’s the first time he has had back to back top-tens since he finished T-7th in the 2013 John Deere Classic, then finished T-9th at the RBC Canadian Open. Guess what happen in his next start? He won the Wyndham Championship so who knows what Reed could do this week?

Soren Kjeldsen

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
T10 T15

Has to experience the long flight to Shanghai and get ready to play with little prep, but he has played at Sheshen in three WGC-HSBC and in his last start was T-10th in 2009. Kjelsen had a good week in Turkey, was T-17th in greens hit and T27th in putting, but Kjeldsen will have a final round 66 as something good to carry him over to this week.

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
First time playing in this event

Long shots that could come through:

Scott Piercy

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
T21 T2

Was T-7th in Malaysia, he was runner-up in 2012 but that wasn’t at Sheshen. His one start at Sheshen was in 2013 when he finished T-21st.

Lee Westwood

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
T20 T55 T6 T13 2 T8 T2 T12

Have to like him because he could be just about over his personal problems and ready to play good golf again.

Emilliano Grillo

2015 ’14 ’13 ’12 ’11 ’10 ’09 ’08 ’07 ’06 ’05 ’04 ’03
First time playing in this event

He is back and we will see if he is ready to go in his first trip to this event.

Comments

  1. Justin Thomas ??

  2. sorry but I just don’t see it. The kid is on cloud nine and will scramble a bit this week. Happened to Grillo after the Frys victory, went to Vegas and missed the cut. I probably should of mentioned him, but had other problems.

  3. Just think the mind set of JT is different and senario. Grill being a party type guy and wins then heads to Vegas is a recipe for disaster. JT might not win but for Draft kings purposes I see a top 10 here. Staying with his great friend Spieth and those two are incredibly competitive against one another.

  4. What public knowledge problems is Lee Westwood dealing with ?

  5. The two Justins have been buds for a long time, so it doesn’t surprise me them staying together.

    As for Westwood his life has been in transition with his marriage and just dealing with all of the problems. Trouble probably started bringing the family to Florida, they hated leaving their small town life in central England and Westwood would not be around much. To say the move was anything but a failure is an understatement.
    As for his marriage I think it’s finished and they are just trying to get the children in a good place. With all of these problems, Westwoods game has been terrible. Will it get better, who knows. It will be a while before I can recommend Westwood for anything, his game is not what it use to be and he will have to reassess every phase of it. Be interesting to see what happens to him in a Ryder Cup year. He has been a major force on the European Team since 1997 and I can’t see him (as of right now, things may change) on the team at Hazeltine a year from now.

  6. And thank you for doing this site, Incredible helpful.

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