It will be held in Shangai, China. For the second year running, 40 of the world’s Top 50 golfers will line up in Shanghai this week (November 6-9). It is another sign that China is becoming soon a golf superpower.
We can say that the WGC-HSBC Champions became ‘Asia’s Major’. We would think this achievement is achieved also with active state support, but it is exactly the opposite. Since 2004 it has been illegal in China to build golf courses as a result of a directive of the State Council. Somehow golf course developers found gaps in the regulation and were able to multiply from 170 in 2004 to 1000+ today.
In 2005 the tournament attracted 13 of the world’s top 50 golfers. By 2009 as the status of the World Golf Championship grew, the organizers were able to attract 28 of the top 50. In the last 2 years they have attracted 40 of the world’s best 50 golfers to compete for the $8.5 million prize fund.
In this week we will see among the above mentioned 40 of top golfers: Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Henrik Stenson, Justin Rose, Bubba Watson, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Rickie Fowler, Jamie Donaldson etc.
