2014 WGC-HSBC Champions Fantasy Sleeper Picks

By Danny Norris | Nov 3, 2014

The WGC-HSBC Champions is the last big event of the 2014 calendar year. Since 2009, the WGC-HSBC Champions event has grown every year as golf in China continues to boom. This is a big event with lots of the best players in the world going to team it up in Sheshan, China at Sheshan Golf Club.

This week features Sergio Garcia, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson, and Adam Scott, among many others. Of course, the two big stars aren’t here and that is Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods. Nonetheless, this is a major event that deserves your undivided attention.

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Sheshan Golf Club is a fun course where scores will be in the low 60’s and the winner should be lower than 20-under. Sheshan is a course that leans towards the longer hitters, just slightly given that the fairways are pretty wide, but there really isn’t a big advantage.

Lee Westwood– Given the quality of the field, players like Lee Westwood are given at bargain bin prices. Westwood has played well overall at the WGC-HSBC Champions and in particular when the WGC-HSBC Champions has taken place at Sheshan. In 2009, Westwood finished T-8, in 2010 Westwood finished 2nd, in 2011: T-13, and last year Westwood had a forgettable T-55.

Aside from last year, Westwood has played extremely well here and last year he struggled in the majority of tournaments he played in. In the last couple of months are so going back to the Ryder Cup, Westwood has played some pretty darn good golf. Last month, Westwood finished T-12 at the Frys.com Open and last week at the CIMB Classic, Westwood finished T-13.

I like Westwood this week and given where he’s at in the fantasy games he’s got tons of value.

Ian Poulter– I’m not particularly high on Ian Poulter. Poulter has been struggling for quite awhile now, but given where he’s at money wise, Poulter is worth a flyer. Like Westwood, Poulter has always done really well at the WGC-HSBC Champions event.

From 2010 to 2013 Poulter’s worst finish has been T-13. In 2012, Poulter won (remember not at Sheshan) and last year he finished 2nd to Dustin Johnson. Again, Poulter hasn’t been playing all that well. Poulter struggled in the Ryder Cup and last week at the BMW Masters, Poulter finished T-48.

If you need that one last golfer to fill out your roster, Poulter’s not a bad guy to take a flyer on.

Jason Dufner– Jason Dufner is two tournaments into his comeback and Dufner has played pretty well. At the Perth International in Australia a couple of weeks back, Dufner made the cut and finished T-23. Last week, at the CIMB Classic, Dufner finished T-26.

Dufner is looking good so far and Dufner has played okay at the WGC-HSBC Champions. In 2009, Dufner finished T-40 and last year he finished T-34. Dufner did finish T-2nd in 2012, but again, that wasn’t at Sheshan.

Thongchai Jaidee– In terms of value, Thongchai Jaidee maybe the most valuable pick. Jaidee is just an extremely quality golfer that plays well in just about every tournament he plays. Of late, Jaidee has played really well finishing T-17 at the ISPS Handa Wales Open, T-32 at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, T-17 at the Portugal Masters, and T-28 at the BMW Masters.

Jaidee also has the course history going for him as well. Last year, Jaidee finished T-46, not a great finish, but in 2009, Jaidee finished T-19, in 2011: T-29, and in 2012: T-21.