Harrington, Cabrera and Goosen sign on for HSBC Champions
Reigning US Open champion Angel Cabrera, British Open ace Padraig Harrington and two-time Major winner Retief Goosen are the latest stars to confirm they'll tee off in the HSBC Champions title at the Sheshan International Golf Club in November.
The two first-time Major winners join a field already rich in world-class golfers including world No 3 Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els (4), Vijay Singh (7) and Sergio Garcia (8).
The players, who boast 13 Majors between them, will vie for a $5 million in prize money at the event that is described as "Asia's Major".
"I am delighted to be playing in the HSBC Champions," Cabrera, the first Argentine to win the US Open, said.
"It is my first time playing in the tournament and I would be very happy to win the champion of champions title."
"I think it is a very good concept - inviting the winners from the different Tours - and I'm very much looking forward to my week in Shanghai."
Ranked a career-high sixth, Harrington believes a higher finish than last year will put him in good stead for next year's rankings.
"I am really looking forward to returning to the Sheshan Club in November," he said.
"I finished tied sixth there last year and certainly hope to improve on that position this year.
"The HSBC Champions has one of the strongest fields of the year outside the Majors and it would be a great event to win to kick off my 2008 season and boost my year-end world ranking."
Goosen, who won the Qatar Masters earlier this year, can't wait to get back to China after having a ball last year.
"The course at Sheshan really suits my game," he said.
"Last year I shot three great rounds in the 60s. This year I'll be looking to play well the whole week as well as enjoy my visit to Shanghai as much as I did last year."
Defending champion Yang Yong-eun has also confirmed he would defend his title after holding off an elite field including Tiger Woods, Jim Furyk and Retief Goosen in 2006.
Last year, Yang followed in the footsteps of KJ Choi to become the second Korean on the European Tour.
"I am looking forward to defending my title," he said.
"Winning the HSBC Champions was the most important title of my career and I hope that I will be able to play well at Sheshan again this year."
Last year's field included representatives from more than 20 countries, making it one of the most diverse top-order fields ever assembled.
The tournament also attracted famous names from other sports, with World tennis No 1 Roger Federer and Spanish ace Rafael Nadal visiting the Sheshan International Golf Club to watch the action.
The HSBC Champions tournament is the only Asian event that invites winners from around the world to compete against the best for prize money worth $5 million.
The event is co-sanctioned by The European Tour, Asian Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Sunshine (Southern Africa) Tour and the China Golf Association.
China Daily
(China Daily 08/29/2007 page22)
