Tiger Woods believes a tried and tested winning mentality can allow him to maintain an impressive success rate in World Golf Championships events at this week’s HSBC Champions in Shanghai. The 33-year-old world number one headlines the star-studded field at Sheshan International Golf Club.
And after claiming a 16th WGC title in 30 events played at this level at August’s Bridgestone Invitational, Woods will hope the newly-elevated status of the event will inspire him.
He finished runner-up in his previous two HSBC Champions appearances in 2005 and 2006.
“I am looking forward to the week, I think everyone is,” Woods said. “This now becoming a World Golf Championship, I think everyone is very excited about it and excited about what it means in the scope of things, not just in China, but the whole of Asia. As a player, we are looking forward to playing this golf course against such a great field.
“I have a simple strategy, and that is to finish lower than anyone else.
“It is just one of those things that I have enjoyed playing against such great fields.
“That’s the whole idea of the World Golf Championships, so it is not only the majors when we all get together, it’s now these World Golf events. It’s great to get together with these guys, and for some reason I have had some good results.”
Even with a host of players opting out of the tournament, many of them Americans partly down to the fact the event will not count as an official victory on the PGA Tour, 20 of the world’s top 30 will line up tomorrow in the strongest field ever assembled in Asia.
World number nine Sergio Garcia returns to defend the title he won last year after defeating Ryder Cup team-mate Oliver Wilson in a sudden-death play-off, while current leader Lee Westwood headlines 14 of the top 15 in the Race to Dubai standings — with the European Tour season set to reach an exciting and potentially lucrative climax over the next three weeks.
“I think this tournament was great before, now it’s even better. It’s taken a step to a higher level,” said Garcia, who is currently 11th in the Race to Dubai.
“It had some very good players before, now it’s probably a little deeper field. When you talk about a World Golf Championships event, it’s always a little bit special so it definitely brings something else to the table.
“As a defending champion it brings confidence, it brings me good thoughts. It’s a course where I have done well, so it’s always a positive thing.
“There is no doubt you are thinking about defending your title, but if I didn’t win last year, I would be standing here trying to win the title again so the main goal is still the same.”
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