New World Number One Lee Westwood believes television viewers should expect another rollercoaster ride when live coverage of the WGC-HSBC Champions is beamed around the world this week.
For the first time since 1997, four golfers – Westwood, Tiger Woods, Martin Kaymer and Phil Mickelson – will be vying for top spot in the Official World Golf Rankings at the event in Shanghai, China. Believed to be the most watched Asian golf event in history in 2009, this year live coverage extends into South-east Asia and more evening highlights shows are being screened on terrestrial television stations.
On the course, this year marks the first time an Asian event has had the potential to influence a change in who is top dog in the global game, but Westwood says one thing will not alter: the level of excitement.
“There’s been a great finish to every tournament,” said the Englishman, who Europe’s reigning number one after winning The Race to Dubai last year. “It creates a lot of drama, like Sawgrass or somewhere like that,” said Westwood, comparing the Sheshan International Golf Club layout to the TPC course in Florida which hosts The Players Championship.
“It’s just a big tournament. It’s one you want to pencil in [to your schedule] and not miss. It’s a great run for Asia around that time of year; it creates a big buzz in that part of the world.”
Three-time Major Champion Padraig Harrington reckons another world class winner is also on the cards to join a roll of honour which includes Phil Mickelson (2009 and 2007), Sergio Garcia (2008) and Asia’s first Major winner YE Yang.
“The greater the buzz going down the end brings players back because when they see good champions winning they want to be part of that,” said Harrington. “It’s a strong course and you really have to play well on it and there’s plenty of danger coming home. You’re guaranteed an exciting finish there.”
The HSBC Champions and the Sheshan International Golf Club have earned the reputation for drama thanks to the high proportion of risk-reward holes in the closing stretch. Peter Hanson, a 2010 Ryder Cup winner, even mentioned the HSBC Champions in the same breath as golf’s mecca, Augusta National.
“Look at the Masters and the buzz around that,” he said. “If we can stay in Shanghai for many years, when you watch it on TV you’ll remember all the golf holes coming down the stretch. There are a lot of spectacular things. It’s good fun and there aren’t a lot of courses that have that.
“Augusta maybe has it with the two par fives coming up the 13th and 15th, and then the 16th, but then the 17th and 18th are a bit more straightforward. It’s always fun to have all that water around.”
Mickelson described Sheshan International’s 16th hole as “one of the coolest holes” in world golf after his victory last year, and Hanson agreed, saying: “I think he’s absolutely right, especially with the position it’s at. I have to agree, I think it’s one of the best holes in the world as well.
“When you stand there and you have to hit that baby cut drive with water on the right and you know you can’t hit it left there’s a lot of pressure and it’s a fantastic feeling to stand there on that tee.”
