2014 WGC-HSBC Champions: Flordia-Georgia Duel In Shanghai
By Les Bailey
Sep 14, 2014; Atlanta, GA, USA; Billy Horschel does the Gator chomp after winning the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup at East Lake Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
When The WGC-HSBC Champions get underway from the Sheshan International Golf Resort in Shanghai on Wednesday evening(Thursday morning in China) golf fans around the world can see 40 of the top 50 golfers in the world tee it up for a shot at $8.5 Millions Dollars, 550 FedEx Cup points, and a chance at the Race To Dubai Championship. You have to wonder how much college bragging rights will be at stake as well for the worlds final WGC event.
It seems that the more successful pro golfers in 2014 had roots in the Southeast Conference(SEC), with the University of Georgia and, University of Florida carrying the biggest load.
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Florida Gator, Billy Horschel battled Bulldog, Chris Kirk down the stretch for the 2014 FedEx Cup Championship, with Kirk wining the Deutsche Bank, and Horschel wining the BMW Championship in Denver, and the Tour Championship in the heart of Georgia.
After the thumping, the Gators put on the Bulldogs at the World’s largest Cocktail Party last Saturday in Jacksonville when Florida upset Georgia 38-20, you can bet the duel will continue in Shanghai this week.
Bulldogs out number the Gators, with two-time Masters Champ, Bubba Watson in the field for the first time since the Ryder Cup, and besides Kirk, feature Russell Henley, and Brendon Todd.
Henley made some noise two weeks ago at the McGladrey Classic when he got into contention during the early rounds. The former Bulldog finished in a tie for fourth place, but is still win-less since he defeated Russell Knox, Ryan Palmer, and Rory McIlroy in a playoff at the Honda Classic.
In his only 2014-2015 appearance, Brendon Todd finished T 48 at the McGladrey, and has not won since he beat Mike Weir at the HP Byron Nelson Championship back in May.
Bulldog buddy, Harris English did not qualify for the HSBC, and will spend his week at The Sanderson Farms in Mississippi.
Billy Horschel leads the Gator contingent this week in Shanghai, and has been quiet since his win at East Lake, and the birth of his first child. He missed the cut in his first outing at The Shriners, but picked up a T37 in Malaysia last week at the CIMB Classic.
Matt Every will shore up the Gators in the field after finishing T49 last week at The Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club. The 30 year-old Florida grad picked up his only win last year during the Florida swing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Every missed eight cuts in 2014, and they started the week after his win, at the Masters. After the win, he missed cuts in the big events, including two of the FedEx Cup playoff events. He was eliminated when he missed the cut at the BMW Championship in Denver.
The Mystery Gator in the field this week is Mu Hu from China. He makes the field at the HSBC Champions as an Asian Tour developmental player, and joins five other players who were selected by the Chinese.
Mu Hu is 25 years old, and lives in Shanghai. He turned pro in 2010, and played in 11 tournaments during the 2013 season, wining over $61,000 dollars. He played in two events during the 2014 season, but has not made a cut, or any money.
Two Oklahoma State Cowboys are in the field in Shanghai, Rickie Fowler, and Ryder Cup buddy, Hunter Mahan. Okie State lost to Kansas State this week 48-14.