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WGC HSBC Champions Preview

By: Golfshake Editor | Sun 23 Oct 2016


Post by Sports Writer Derek Clements


RUSSELL KNOX returns to Shanghai to defend his WGC HSBC Champions Trophy title, buoyed by the fact that what happened in China 12 months ago, when he beat a world-class field by two shots, was the start of a run that saw the Scot confirm himself as one of the best players on the planet.

This is an event that has seen some high-calibre winners since it was first played in 2009 - the inaugural champion was Phil Mickelson, it was won in 2010 by Francesco Molinari, in 2011 by Martin Kayer, Ian Poulter in 2013, Bubba Watson in 2014 and Dustin Johnson in 2015. One obvious name is missing from that list, and you can bet that Rory McIlroy will be looking to put that right this week.

The Northern Irishman had a disappointing season until the FedEx Cup playoffs came along and he won twice in double-quick time, picking up the $10m bonus that takes him into the climax of the season in good heart. He may not have won a major but he will be looking to win this title, the Dubai World Championship and the Race to Dubai. And it would be a brave (or foolish) person who would bet against him achieving all of those goals.

The great news for McIlroy fans is that, at last, he seems to have resolved his putting woes. You know that McIlroy is always going to strike the ball well but when he holes putts he begins to look well-nigh unbeatable.

This should be a fabulous tournament, with Paul Casey still in the form of his life and looking to cap an astonishing couple of months by adding a WGC title to his resume. The sooner the European Tour sit down with the Englishman and work out a compromise that sees him rejoin the tour, the better. He is too good a player to be sitting at home watching the action unfold on TV when the Ryder Cup battle resumes in Paris in two years.

It has been a joy to watch his attacking play during the FedEx Cup playoffs, and he has simply carried on where he left off at the start of the new PGA Tour season. Right now, he must wish that 2016 will never end.

Jordan Spieth will think exactly the opposite about this year. It all started to so well, but since his meltdown on the 12th hole in the final round of The Masters, the young American has struggled with his swing. However, there have been signs recently that his best golf may not be too far away.

And what about Mickelson? At 46 years of age, his powers are as good as they have ever been and he has enjoyed a memorable 12 months that included being part of the most astonishing Open Championship that we have ever witnessed. Like Casey, he has done everything but win. His powers of recovery are second to none but his driving is as wild as it has ever been. Even Phil has identified it as the area he needs to sort out, and fast. Butch Harmon, who has spent some time coaching MIckelson, despairs of his charge. Ask him after a session on the range how Mickelson is going to play and will tell you: "If he takes his range game to the course he is unbeatable. The problem is that he never does. He gets that driver in his hands and he just wants to try to hit it as hard and as far as he can. He knows it's the wrong strategy but, like he says, he just can't help himself."

Well maybe, just maybe, common sense is starting to prevail. If he can sort things out during the close season, who knows what he can still achieve? But the thing is that even when he sprays it to all parts of the course, Mickelson can still win, and he is my pick this week.

The tournament is likely to come down to the last two holes - the 17th is a 212-yard par three with water on the right, deep bunkers to the left and a big slope in the middle of the green. And then there is the finishing hole, a 540-yard par five with water running the full length of the fairway before an approach played over more water - there is more water to the right and the narrow green slopes from back to front. Somebody could win by finishing birdie, eagle, but they could just as easily throw it away with a pair of double-bogeys.

To Win: Phil Mickelson. Golf's great entertainer

Each Way: Rory McIlroy. The perfect driving machine

Each Way: Paul Casey. Keeps getting better and better

Fantasy Picks:

Phil Mickelson. The man is desperate for a victory

Rory McIlroy. Good to see him back to his best

Paul Casey. Get him back on the European Tour please

Dustin Johnson. What a year he's had - stunning

Jordan Spieth. What a year he's had - forgettable

Lee Westwood. Playing some great golf at The Grove, and even holed some putts

Patrick Reed. What's not to love about Reed?

Bubba Watson. A man with a point to prove

Justin Thomas. A class act

Alex Noren. Has moved to a new level

 


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Tags: PGA Tour european tour



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