The major golf tours in the world come together as one for the final time this year as the last World Golf Championship of 2015 takes place in China this week.
78 of the very best players in the world head to Shanghai for big ranking points and more importantly big dosh to claim the last WGC of the year.
Bubba Watson won around here 12 months ago. He beat Tim Clark in a playoff and the big hitting American is 18/1 with Bet365 to defend his title.
Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai is the venue as it has been ever since this tournament began in 2009 with the exception of 2012 when it had a year elsewhere. In that time the course has matured and undergone a few changes and as a result of that it now represents a much tougher test than before.
The course remains a par 72 but now measures just 7,261 yards. Water is in play on no fewer than 11 of the holes and with the changes that have been made to the course the fairways have become slightly harder to find. A recent trend has been large, undulating greens and we’ve got that again this week so putting will be important.
Rory McIlroy is teeing it up for the second straight week as part of his commitment to the European Tour and he does so as a 6/1 favourite ahead of Jordan Spieth who is a 17/2 shot. Watson comes next at 18/1 with Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler and Adam Scott all 20/1. Stenson is 22/1 and it is 25/1 bar those.
The rough is said to be more penal around here these days and with the rain that’s been around in the lead up to the tournament you probably want to stay out of there but I can’t help but think this is a course where length can still override accuracy as long as we’re not on someone who is smashing it miles out of play. Therefore I’m concentrating on strong drivers this week.
With that in mind I immediately head to one of the very best drivers of a golf ball this generation has seen and that is the Australian, Adam Scott. For someone of Scott’s class 2015 has been largely a non-event but having enjoyed a really positive Presidents Cup he followed that up with a runner up spot in Malaysia last week.
Scott’s long game has never once been in question but the roll he was getting on the ball with the short stick (not the broomy thing he’s used for years) particularly caught the eye and something similar with that club this week is going to make him extremely hard to beat. Stevie isn’t on the bag like he was last week but given the nonsense that’s been spouted from his book and the attention it is getting that might not be a bad thing for once. I’m expecting a very strong show from Australia’s number two.
When we’re looking for great drivers of a golf ball Shane Lowry always has to come to the top of the shortlist and he’s bang on mine here. Lowry drives it brilliantly but he isn’t all about the driver and that should serve him well this week.
Very few have a short game like the Irishman’s and on these large greens that has to see him come to the party. Lowry has taken it easy since he won the last WGC event but he warmed up for this week with a top 10 in Turkey last week where those above him stole a march on him on the opening two days but Lowry finished well and can take that into this week and go strongly here.
I backed Kiradech Aphibarnrat last week and six holes from home I thought I was on the winner. He stood and watched two go past him down the stretch with vital chip ins but he didn’t do a lot wrong so there is still some mileage in the 66/1 quotes next to his name this week.
Aphibarnrat might not be as accurate as the first two I’ve taken but he’s pretty long and his putting is so underrated it is untrue. He’s already a winner in China this year and at this price I have to pay to see if a second win is awaiting him in the Asian nation.
Finally I’m going to go with another Asian who regulars will know I’m a big fan of and predict big things for and that is Byeong Hun-An. An’s strength is the way he drives the ball and we saw that in Turkey last week where he finished fourth.
His putting was excellent there which should boost his confidence even further and having won in Korea a month or so ago we know he is comfortable in Asian conditions. At 80/1 he should give us a great run for our money this week.
Back A.Scott to win HSBC Champions (e/w) for a 1.5/10 stake at 21.00 with Paddy Power (1/4 1-5)
Back S.Lowry to win HSBC Champions (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 34.00 with Boylesports (1/4 1-5)
Back K.Aphibarnrat to win HSBC Champions (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 67.00 with BetVictor (1/4 1-5)
Back B.H-An to win HSBC Champions (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 81.00 with Stan James (1/4 1-5)
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Hi Kev. I backed Scott early in the week. I also thought he was certain to go well here, When I started to watch the coverage I though the course was playing tough because all he big boys were level or just under and the coverage was concentrated on them. Then I seen the scoreboard!
Scott;s back nine (course front) was a real horror show. Not the first time I have had that from him. Well at least I do not have to get up at 3am to watch it now. GL with your other sels.
Yeah absolute carnage mate. Completely out of the blue too. Assume he drove it in the water on 2 but we never got to see.