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WGC-HSBC Champions: Top five sleeper picks

By Mike Randleman

SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 08: Golf fans watch the action on the eighth hole during the final round of the WGC - HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club on November 8, 2015 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - NOVEMBER 08: Golf fans watch the action on the eighth hole during the final round of the WGC - HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club on November 8, 2015 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /
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WGC-HSBC Champions
JEJU, SOUTH KOREA – OCTOBER 22: Kyle Stanley of the United States watches his tee shot on the 5th hole during the final round of the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges on October 22, 2017 in Jeju, South Korea. (Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images) /

Kyle Stanley enters in solid form for his second career start at the WGC-HSBC Champions, the last coming in 2012 (T65).

The 29-year-old former Clemson Tiger played the first two legs of the Asian swing. He first tied for 21st at the CIMB Classic and then tied for 19th last week at the CJ Cup.

Stanley has had his best year since earning his maiden PGA Tour win in 2012. He’s 21-for-26 in cuts made with four top-10s, including a T4 at the PLAYERS and his emotional win in a playoff at the Quicken Loans National.

He’s risen up the ranks by realizing his potential as an elite ball striker. Stanley finished the 2016-17 PGA Tour season 11th in strokes gained tee-to-green. Within that, Stanley was second in GIR, second in total driving, eighth in fairway proximity, just to name a few key stats.

Stanley is still a poor putter (159th in strokes gained), but he’s now a slight positive around the greens. If his ball striking keeps up and he avoids scrambling from the moderately sized rough (and subsequently needing to hole 10-15 footers), Stanley should improve upon his last trip to Shanghai.

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