Padraig Harrington, Paul Casey, David Howell and Robert Karlsson, the four protagonists in the epic climax to The 2006 European Tour Order of Merit race, re-enter the competitive arena just 11 days after Valderrama by launching their quest for the 2007 Harry Vardon Trophy in China.
That illustrious quartet, along with three other members of the winning European Ryder Cup Team from The K Club in September, contest the HSBC Champions tournament at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, having had less than two weeks to re-charge their batteries after a punishing campaign.
Howell, who finished third behind Harrington and Casey in the challenge to be Europe’s new Number One at the end of the 2006 season, will defend the title he won so brilliantly from a hugely talented field including World Number One Tiger Woods at the same venue last year.
Playing with Woods in the final round, the 31 year old Englishman out-scored the reigning Open and US PGA Champion 68-70 for a three stroke victory. Once again Woods enters the fray in Shanghai with his sights fixed on the €655,883 first prize, while another member of the US Ryder Cup side, Jim Furyk, is also competing this time around.
Woods said: “I had a lot of fun at the HSBC Champions last year and I am delighted to be returning to the Shanghai Sheshan International for a second time. It’s a title I really want to win – especially after chasing David so hard last year and coming so close. All the players appreciated the fantastic reception from the Chinese golf fans and the atmosphere was amazing all week.”
Howell added his weight behind the HSBC Champions event by saying: “Last year kick-started my best season on Tour. To finish top in an event with so many of the world’s best players – and especially holding off Tiger’s challenge at the weekend - gave me a real boost and I am looking forward to my title defence.”
Harrington finally wrapped his hands around the coveted Vardon Trophy at Valderrama after several close calls, edging out Casey by €35,252 (£23,616). The Irishman embarks on his 2007 schedule as Number One in Europe and said: “This has been a big goal of mine down the years.
“To have won the Order of Merit at last makes me very proud and hopefully I can keep going forward and can carry the flag of European Number One well for a year. Who knows? Maybe I can come back better and stronger and win it again!”
Casey will be aiming to add the HSBC Champions title to the HSBC World Match Play Championship he won in record style in September. Casey left American Shaun Micheel in his slipstream by winning the 36 hole final at Wentworth Club by a staggering 10 and 8 margin.
That victory, Casey’s third of the season, catapulted the Englishman to the top of the Order of Merit, a position he held until overtaken by Ireland’s Padraig Harrington on the final day of the Volvo Masters.
Casey will also be looking for a hat-trick of Chinese titles following his previous successes in the 2005 TCL Classic and the 2006 Volvo China Open.
“It is not often you get the chance to claim a double and a hat-trick in the same week so I am particularly looking forward to the HSBC Champions,” said Casey. “Last year’s event was a great week and the strength of the field makes it an important one to win.”
As well as Harrington, Casey, Howell and Karlsson, other European Ryder Cup players aiming for a rapid start to their 2007 campaigns are Luke Donald, Colin Montgomerie and Henrik Stenson.
Montgomerie, a record eight time winner of The European Order of Merit title but ninth in 2006, is also looking forward to returning to Shanghai to begin his bid for a ninth Vardon Trophy. He said: “Having played on the Tour for 20 years, I really enjoyed playing in this new event last year in such an exciting city as Shanghai. It is a title I would love to win and a good finish at the HSBC Champions would also get my 2007 European Tour Order of Merit campaign off to a fantastic start.”
Furyk, winner of the 2003 US Open Championship, commented: “I am really looking forward to travelling to China – it will be my first time playing in an official tournament there and the strength of the field makes it an important one to win in terms of World Ranking points. It will be fantastic to compete against the champions from the different Tours and I think it will be a very special week.”
Local favourite, Lian-Wei Zhang will also be playing, along with Korean star, KJ Choi, who enthused; “This is a fantastic event for Asian golf with so many elite golfers travelling over to compete for the biggest prize fund in Asia. It’s a fantastic tournament venue and I really want to improve on my 12th place finish last year.”
Welshman Mark Pilkington, who won the European Challenge Tour Rankings, is rewarded with a start in Shanghai, following in the footsteps of the 2005 Challenge Tour champion, Marc Warren. Pilkington would be more than happy to emulate Warren, who went on to win the EnterCard Scandinavian Masters on his debut season on Tour and finished it by landing the Sir Henry Cotton Rookie of the Year Award.
