It’s that time again.
Time for one of those Fat-Cat, no-cut, WGC events where the last guy in the field typically picks up a check for 50-large.
The only catch is that you have to go to Shanghai, as in China.
Sheshan International Golf Club is the venue this week for Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Justin Rose for the WGC-HSBC, a real alphabet shuffle, if you will.
First event for Brooks Koepka as the world’s No. 1-ranked player. He’s got lofty company though. Dustin Johnson, who Brooks demoted to No. 2 thanks to that victory at the CJ Cup, is there.
The final round at Sheshan last year was a Chinese nightmare for D.J. He took a six-shot lead into the final round but ended up shooting 77 which opened the door for Rose. Rose started the day eight back but posted 14-under par to win, leaving D.J. an embarrassing second at 12-under, tied with bash-brother Koepka.
Which brings us back to Koepka, who obviously played well at Sheshan last year and is looking even stronger this year.
Rose is No. 3 but there are plenty of names in this field. The only big name missing is Justin Thomas. Doesn’t matter. Rory McIlroy’s in, so is Jon Rahm, Open champion Francesco Molinari and his Ryder Cup buddy Tommy Fleetwood. Count Jason Day in too. Thomas is the only one of the top six in the world not in town.
Maybe it’s also a little surprising that Tiger Woods didn’t make the trip. After all, the WGC events are totally his cup of tea with no cuts and small fields. But Woods may still be trying to recover from the embarrassment of the Ryder Cup and the year-end exhaustion he admitted to following the Folly In France.
This will also be the first start for Tony Finau since the Ryder Cup.
All in all, it will make for some great late night entertainment.
