WGC-HSBC Champions: Power ranking the top 10 at Sheshan

The final World Golf Championship of 2018 comes in the form of the WGC-HSBC Champions this week at Sheshan Golf Club in Shanghai.

For those watching in the Western world, more late-night golf is on the way as the PGA Tour (as well as a smorgasbord of tours co-sanctioning this event) marches on with the WGC-HSBC Champions.

This event originated as a European Tour event in 2005 until it was bestowed WGC status in 2009.

Sheshan Golf Club has hosted every year, save for 2013 when Mission Hills got the nod.

Sheshan is regarded as one of the best courses in Asia, if not the absolute best. It’s no surprise, then, that one of the sport’s premier tournaments keeps coming back for more.

It measures 7,261 yards for a par 72 and features seashore papsalum grass (but you already knew that) until bentgrass takes over on the greens.

This course doesn’t seem to favor any one type of player as bombers like Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson and more of the grinding type like Alex Noren and Russell Knox have all hoisted the trophy.

A bomber can’t get too wild, though, as water comes into play on 11 holes, so finding fairways or, worst case, having good proximity numbers from the fairway will help.

The fairways are pretty standard in size though the greens aren’t enormous.

Regardless of playing style, going low is necessary to finish on top. Since becoming a WGC, the winning score has never been worse than 11-under, and it’s exceeded 20-under four times.

Like the past two weeks, this is another limited field (78 players), no-cut event. There aren’t many to worry about, but I’d be wary of taking anyone who made the cut at the European Tour’s Andalucia Valderrama Masters which featured a late finish on Monday.

Long range forecasts show potential for early rain on Thursday and Saturday, so keep an eye out for tee times.

Let’s get into it.