Venue
The 18-hole, par-72 Sheshan International Golf Club features tree-lined fairways and is set among gentle rolling hills in a natural valley. The Basilica of our Lady of Sheshan Cathedral dominates the skyline and is surrounded by mock Italian-style villas, though isn’t far from the centre of Shanghai.
There are plenty of bunkers to catch out the unwary and several water hazards. The fairways are not overly taxing but the green are undulating and can be tricky according to pin position.
History
The WGC HSBC Championship has been a regular fixture on the European Tour since 2005 but it’s only in the last five years that has formed part of the US PGA Tour as well. Phil Mickelson is the only player to have so far won the tournament more than once but there are two who could match that record this year.
Justin Rose won the tournament 12 months ago and also has two other top seven finishes to his name. Rose has equalled or bettered par in 18 out of his 20 career rounds at Sheshan International and that kind of record indicates that he has to go on the short-list again. World Number One earlier in the year. He’s enjoyed five top ten finishes this year, including finishing runner-up at The Open, and was world number one for a short time earlier in the campaign. His performance at the British Masters, where he was host, shows that he is still in good form and victory this week could propel him back to the top of the rankings ahead of Brooks Koepka – Rose is a best 9/1 in Shanghai.
Koepka, winner of this year’s US Open and PGA Championship, tied for second place in this tournament last year. His win in last week’s CJ Cup took him to that coveted number one spot but a win for either Rose or Dustin Johnson would leave his reign short-lived. However, he is also a best 9/1 this week.
Dustin Johnson led the HSBC Championship last year after three rounds but shot a disastrous 77 in the final round, opening the door for Rose. He still tied for second with Koepka and Sweden’s Henrik Stenson, however. The American will be determined to make amends and did win this tournament back in 2013 – he is a general 8/1 to win this year.
Europe’s Ryder Cup stars Rory McIlroy, Tommy Fleetwood and Jon Rahm are also competing in Shanghai but we like the 33/1 on offer for TYRRELL HATTON with Unibet.
The 27-year-old from Buckinghamshire has not done a great deal wrong this year so will be disappointed that he’s not been able to add to his three European Tour victories so far. He did, however, manage top 10 places at both the US Open and PGA Championship and was on the heels of the leaders when attempting a third consecutive victory in the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship at St Andrews recently.
Hatton also has previous at Sheshen International, finishing in the top 25 in the last two years. The course, then is clearly to his liking and bookmakers are paying out each-way bets down to at least fifth place.
WGC HSBC Championship Current Best Odds
Dustin Johnson 8/1
Justin Rose and Brooks Koepka 9/1
Rory McIlroy 10/1
Jason Day 18/1
Hideki Matsuyama and Tommy Fleetwood 20/1
Tony Finau 22/1
Jon Rahm and Francesco Molinari 25/1
Paul Casey 28/1
Tyrrell Hatton 33/1
Rafael Cabrera Bello and Patrick Cantlay 40/1
Alex Noren 45/1
Cameron Smith, Matthew Fitzpatrick, Patrick Reed, Adam Scott and Ian Poulter 50/1
Xander Schauffele 66/1
Thorbjorn Olesen, Keegan Bradley, Billy Horschel, Kyle Stanley and Byeong-Hun An 70/1
Hao Tong Li 75/1
Lucas Bjerregaard, Emiliano Grillo and Eddie Pepperell 80/1
Russell Knox 90/1
Matt Wallace, Thomas Pieters and Kevin Na 100/1
110/1 And Upwards Others
(Odds Correct at 3.00pm October 23)
