Mickelson, Immelman head to HSBC Champions
Defending champion and world No 2 Phil Mickelson and 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman have confirmed they will be competing in the 2008 HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, from Nov 6-9.
Mickelson, fresh off his win at the 2008 Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, his second title of the year, said: "I had a great time at the HSBC Champions last year. Winning such a prestigious international title was really important to me - I didn't enjoy reading that I hadn't won outside of the US since 1993 every time I teed it up at the British Open!
"It was also fantastic to have my family there to enjoy the experience of visiting China and we certainly saw some amazing sights. The 'Champion of Champions' title is a great one to have and I will be doing all I can to defend my title in November."
South Africa's Immelman, ranked No 16 in the world, is also looking forward to his trip to Shanghai.
He said: "I am delighted to be able to include the HSBC Champions in my schedule this year. Since the inaugural event in 2005, all the world's best players have competed there and it is a title everyone is keen to win.
"Obviously, winning the Masters, my first Major title, was the most important moment of my career so far, but I aim to build on that success by winning many more titles."
Giles Morgan, HSBC's head of sponsorship, said: "Last year people were debating whether the HSBC Champions field was the strongest ever seen in Asia. Then earlier this year, there was more discussion as to whether the HSBC Women's Champions was the best golf event ever staged in Asia, because all the best players in the world were competing in Singapore.
"We've set the bar high for ourselves, but we have our defending champion returning and we have the first major winner of the year coming, so we've made a very strong start."
Tournament winners from around the world are rewarded with an invitation to compete against the world's top 50 players at the Sheshan International Golf Club. With a $5 million purse, it will be one of the largest prizes on offer for a tournament in Asia this year.
The event is sanctioned by the Asian Tour, European Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Sunshine (Southern Africa) Tour, and the China Golf Association.
New qualifying criteria allow champions from the past three years to compete, ensuring inaugural winner David Howell of England and popular Korean Yang Yong-eun, the winner in 2006, will have a place in the lineup this year.
Tickets will go on sale on July 1 and can be purchased by calling the ticket hotline: (+86 21) 962 388 and online at www.hsbcgolf.com.
China Daily
(China Daily 06/11/2008 page23)
