England’s Luke Donald, Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy have confirmed that they will be joining their 2010 Ryder Cup-winning team-mates Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell, Ian Poulter and Martin Kaymer at the 2010 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.
England’s Paul Casey, who narrowly missed out on qualification for the European Team, will also be at the Sheshan International Golf Club, in Shanghai, from November 4-7, looking to end his season on a high with victory at the fourth and final World Golf Championships of
the year.
With the American duo of Tiger Woods and defending champion Phil Mickelson, respectively World Number One and Three, also confirmed along with The 2010 Open Champion Louis Oosthuizen of South Africa and 2010 World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational winner Hunter Mahan, the 2010 WGC-HSBC Champions looks set to build upon last year’s success.
Elevated to the illustrious tier of World Golf Championships events for the first time, the event attracted the strongest field ever seen in Asia, with seven players from the top ten of the Official Golf World Ranking and 20 of the world’s top 30 golfers making it the second-highest ranked field anywhere in the world outside America in 2009.
Donald, the World Number Eight who played a crucial role in Europe’s victory by winning three points out of a possible four, is looking for his first World Golf Championships title to round off a memorable year.
He said: “After an amazing week at The Ryder Cup, I am really looking forward to the rest of the season and especially playing in the WGC-HSBC Champions, having missed out last year. I really liked the Sheshan Course, and having finished tied 14th in 2006, I know that I can play well on the course. I think it is great that the World Golf Championships have made it part of their series, as Asia plays an ever more important role in global golf.”
Three-time Major Champion Harrington has enjoyed a confidence boost from Europe’s Ryder Cup success, and is thrilled to have qualified. He said: “It feels great to be part of the winning Ryder Cup Team, and I hope it will be a turning point in my season as I look towards the rest of the year. I really want to get back in the winner’s circle soon, and would love it to be at the prestigious WGC-HSBC Champions.
“I’ve played at Sheshan every year since the inaugural event in 2005, and it is a course I like. I really enjoy visiting Shanghai and love the enthusiasm of the Chinese fans, so look forward to returning every year. I’ve had some pretty good finishes there but against a field of such quality, I know I will need four great rounds to win my first World Golf Championships event.”
World Number Nine McIlroy, fresh from his successful Ryder Cup debut, said: “Last year was not only the first time the HSBC Champions had World Golf Championships status, but also my first time playing at Sheshan International Golf Club. It was every inch a World Golf Championships event, from the world-class field assembled to the immaculately-prepared course and, as always, HSBC did a fantastic job in looking after the players.
“For all that, I am most looking forward to playing in front of the fantastic Chinese fans, as they created a unique atmosphere which really helped me deliver my final round of 63, which was one of my best of the year.”
World Number Seven Casey will be looking to build on his recent run of impressive form and win the coveted ‘Champion of Champions’ title and the lion’s share of the US$7million prize fund.
Having missed much of last season through injury, he said: “I was so disappointed last year when I had to pull out of the WGC-HSBC Champions after the third round. After missing out on so much of last season with my rib injury, I was determined to be ready to compete at Sheshan, as it is one of my favourite events of the year and thoroughly deserving of its World Golf Championships status. This year I am injury-free and raring to get to Shanghai, and hope that I can add my name to the impressive roster of past winners.”
Robbie Henchman, Senior Vice President of the tournament promoters IMG, said: “With only one month to go, our preparations are going very well for this year’s tournament, and it is very pleasing to have so many world-class players already confirmed in the field.”
