The Big Names Are Back for this Week’s HSBC Championship

You know you have arrived when just your first name is enough to be recognized, and in the world of golf, those names are Jason, Jordan, Bubba, Rickie, and Rory.

Four of the five (Jason Day is staying home to await the birth of his second child) take center-stage this week in Shanghai at the final WBC event of 2015—although, technically, it’s also the first WBC event of the 2015-2016 wrap-around PGA Tour season.

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Believe it or not, a year ago Jordan Speith was not in the top ten world rankings and had only one win as a pro.  Since then he has won seven times, including two majors, and the Tour Championship.  It is a run we have not seen the likes of since “you know who.”

Now, Jordan will be in a featured group that also includes defending champion, Bubba Watson, and Henrik Stenson.  And that’s just one of several groups that will be fun to watch during the first two days of the tournament.

Last year, in case you don’t remember, Bubba forced a playoff against Tim Clark after holing-out a greenside bunker shot for an eagle.  Bubba’s celebration is still featured in just about every PGA commercial you see these days.

Bubba Watson’s phenomenal eagle hole out from a bunker at HSBC

In the final round of the 2014 World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions, Bubba Watson finds the cup with a hole out from the greenside bunker for eagle on the par-5 18th hole, ultimately forcing a playoff with Tim Clark, which he would win. .

 
Also, paired together are Rory, Rickie, and a guy who goes by just initials instead of a first name, DJ.  Dustin Johnson won this tournament in 2013 and has typically shown well in the WBC events.

These two groups will be teeing off at the same time from the 1st tee and 10th tee, respectively.  Giving golf fans a prime-time viewing treat.

But let’s not forget about a few others that will be playing the Sheshan International Golf Course:

Kevin Na has started this 2015-2016 wrap-around season on fire, finishing in the top three in each of his last tournaments.  Justin Thomas, who some are calling “Speith 2.0,” is coming off his first career PGA win, and Adam Scott will be looking to continue his non-anchored success after finishing second at the CIMB Tournament.

The Course

Last year the 7,231 yard Sheshan played tough, with an overall scoring average of 72.726.  The course average was the fourth highest of the non-major courses in 2015.

While there is a 600 yard par-5 and the par-3 holes average about 200 yards, the course shows architects do not need to make a course long to make it difficult.  Instead, this course is about selecting the right club off the tee, playing from the fairway, and being precise with your approach shots.

On Sunday, it will be interesting to see how differently those with the lead and those chasing the lead play the back nine.  There are a few opportunities to be aggressive, but you had better hit the right shot.

On the par-5, fourteenth, if you hit it long off the tee, you can go for the green in two.  The problem is there is water between you and the green—missing it could mean the chase is over.

On the short, par-4, sixteenth, a player can easily go for the green off the tee.  But if you miss left, what remains will be a rather difficult up and down, and if you miss short, you could find yourself in a bunker.

And finally, there is the fantastic par-5 finishing hole.  Water rides alongside you from tee to green and a new bunker has been introduced on the left edge of the fairway.

The past few years this tournament has been a late season pleasure to watch.  I imagine this year it will be no different.  And don’t forget, since it’s in China, it starts tonight!

Cover Photo via @jordanspieth Instagram