Tiger, Phil head hunt for $7 million in Shanghai

SHANGHAI – Five years after Tiger Woods first showed up in Shanghai, he is amazed that the HSBC Champions has grown so quickly into a World Golf Championship that has attracted its strongest field ever.

The world’s No. 1 player helped kick off the week Tuesday by hitting golf balls into the Shanghai River with three past champions – Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Y.E. Yang, who rallied to beat Woods at the PGA Championship this year.

Woods has won 16 of the 30 WGC events he has played. In his two trips to the HSBC Champions, he has been runner-up both times.

The $7 million tournament – the richest in Asia – begins Thursday at Sheshan Golf Club.

Woods and Mickelson are competing for the first time together in Asia, part of a 78-man field that includes 15 of the top 20 players in the world ranking.

“How this event has grown to where it is now is truly remarkable,” Woods said Tuesday. “To see the excitement level here ... and how much it means to everyone, it’s great to be part of it. This year with the field we have, it’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Yang first came to prominence at the HSBC Champions when he finished two shots ahead of Woods in 2006. The previous year, Woods finished second to David Howell.

Now that it’s a World Golf Championship, perhaps his fortunes will change.

Woods has dominated since this series began in 1999, winning 16 of the 30 times in WGC individual events. His latest such victory came at the Bridgestone Invitational in August.

“I’ve come close here a couple of times,” Woods said. “I didn’t get it done. Hopefully, this week I can put it together and improve on that finish.”          (AP)