Hsbcspecial :Europe's Ryder Cup stars eye HSBC Champions title

England's Luke Donald, Ireland's Padraig Harrington and Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland have confirmed they will compete at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai from Nov 4-7.

This puts them in contention for the prestigious title with their Ryder Cup teammates Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter of England, Northern Ireland's Graeme McDowell and Martin Kaymer of Germany.

England's Paul Casey, who narrowly missed qualifying for this year's European Ryder Cup team, will also be there. He will be looking to end his season with an emphatic win at the fourth and final WGC of 2010.

World No 1 Tiger Woods and defending champion Phil Mickelson, ranked world No 3, are also confirmed. South Africa's Louis Oosthuizen, the 2010 Open Champion, will be joining the Americans, as will their compatriot Hunter Mahan, who triumphed at this year's Bridgestone Invitational, another WGC event.

Elevated to the illustrious WGC tier of events for the first time, the HSBC Champions has attracted the strongest field ever seen in Asia, with seven of the world's top 10 and 20 of the world's top 30 golfers.

World No 8 Donald, who played a crucial part in the European team's victory this month by winning three out of four points in Wales, is looking for his first WGC win to cap off a fantastic year.

"After an amazing week at the Ryder Cup, I am really looking forward to the rest of the season and especially playing in the WGC-HSBC Champions, having missed out last year," he said. "I really liked the Sheshan Course, and having finished tied 14th in 2006, I know that I can do well on it.

"I think it is great that the World Golf Championships have made it part of their series, as Asia plays an ever more important part of global golf."

Three-time Major champion Harrington has enjoyed a confidence boost from Europe's Ryder Cup success, and is thrilled to have qualified.

"It feels great to be part of the winning Ryder Cup team, and I hope it will be a turning point in my season as I look towards the rest of the year," he said.

"I really want to get back in the winner's circle soon, and I would love it to be at the prestigious WGC-HSBC Champions. I have played at Sheshan every year since the inaugural event in 2005, and it is a course I like.

"I really enjoy visiting Shanghai and love the enthusiasm of the Chinese fans, so I look forward to returning every year. I've had some pretty good finishes there, but against a field of such quality, I know I will need four great rounds to win my first WGC event."

World No 9 McIlroy, fresh from his successful Ryder Cup debut, described playing in such a strong field as a special experience.

"Last year was not only the first time the HSBC Champions had World Golf Championships status, but also my first time playing at Sheshan International Golf Club," he said.

"It was every inch a WGC event, from the world-class field assembled to the immaculately prepared course. And, as always, HSBC did a fantastic job in looking after the players.

"For all that, I am most looking forward to playing in front of the fantastic Chinese fans, as they created a unique atmosphere which really helped me deliver my final round of 63, which was one of my best of the year."

(China Daily 10/15/2010)