Singh joins Asia's Tournament of Champions

World Number Three, Vijay Singh, the runaway leader of the US PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup play-offs, has confirmed he will take his place in the field for the 2008 HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, from November 6-9, 2008. The 45-year-old, who has won both of the FedEx Cup events – the Deutsche Bank Championship and The Barclays - and also triumphed in the final WGC event of the year – the Bridgestone Invitational – has added his name to the ever growing list of stars challenging for the 2008 HSBC Champions. The field now includes all of the world’s top five active players, having been strengthened even further by the entries of World Number Six Henrik Stenson together with World Number Ten, Geoff Ogilvy. The Fijian star joins two other three-time Major winners in the form of defending Champion and World Number Two, Phil Mickelson, and World Number Four Padraig Harrington. Sergio Garcia, the World Number Five, has also booked his flight to Shanghai along with 2008 Masters Champion, Trevor Immelman, and World Number 11, Adam Scott. Vijay Singh, a popular winner of over 59 titles around the world, explained, “The strength and depth of this field certainly makes the HSBC Champions one of the strongest tournaments outside the Majors. It would be a great title to win, especially as many of the players now view it as ‘Asia’s Major.’ In 2007, Vijay described the greens at Sheshan as the best he had putted on all year, and the 45-year-old is eagerly anticipating his return. “Shanghai is a very exciting city to visit so I am looking forward to returning and I think the course at Sheshan is a fantastic setting for an event of this calibre,” he said. The HSBC Champions’ unique qualifying format brings tournament winners from around the world together to compete alongside the World’s Top 50 leading players. The HSBC Champions is the first tournament on the European Tour Schedule and is the first counting event for the Race to Dubai, the re-named European Tour Order of Merit. Henrik Stenson, who holed the winning putt in The 2006 Ryder Cup and will again represent Europe at Valhalla, Kentucky later this month added, “This is a really significant event for all The European Tour players as it is the very first event for the Race to Dubai and has one of the largest prize funds on offer. A win at the HSBC Champions would certainly give me a great start in the race, as well as some pretty significant World Ranking points with so many top ranked players in the field.” Geoff Ogilvy, Winner of the 2006 US Open and Australia’s highest ranked player added, “I am delighted to be playing in the HSBC Champions for the first time this year and am looking forward to catching up with a few familiar faces who will qualify as winners from the Australasian Tour.” Giles Morgan, HSBC’s Head of Sponsorship, commented, “With his recent wins, Vijay is one of the hottest players in the world at the moment and, as he is the leading golfer in the Asia-Pacific region, it’s great that he’s once again committed to compete in the region’s leading tournament.” “The build-up to this year’s HSBC Champions is so exciting; Vijay’s in top form. Sergio has once again proved he is just one shot away from another big win. Padraig, with two Majors this year, has become a truly ‘prime-time’ golfer and they’re all coming to China to try and dethrone Phil, who is defending a significant overseas title for the first time,” Morgan added. Robbie Henchman, Director of Golf, IMG Asia added, “The entry list reads like a Who’s Who of world golf. This is a significant step forward for golf in Asia. It is cementing its place in the global golf landscape and China, Shanghai and the HSBC Champions are leading the way.” Since it’s inception in 2005 the HSBC Champions prize fund of US$5 million has consistently been the largest on offer in Asia and will be so again in 2008. The event is co-sanctioned by The European Tour, Asian Tour, and the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Sunshine (Southern Africa) Tour, and the China Golf Association. A new qualifying criteria now allows the inclusion of past Champions from the previous three years ensuring the inaugural winner, England’s David Howell, and the popular Korean winner in 2006, Yong-eun Yang, will be assured of a place in the line-up this year. Other Player Quotes: World Number Two, Phil Mickelson: “I had a great time at the HSBC Champions last year. Winning such a prestigious international title was really important to me as I didn’t enjoy reading that I hadn’t won outside of the US since 1993 every time I teed it up at the British Open! It was also fantastic to have my family there to enjoy the experience of visiting China and we certainly saw some amazing sights. The “Champions of Champions” title is a great one to have and I will be doing all I can to defend my title in November.” World number Four, Padraig Harrington: “You’ve got four of the World’s best golfers in a very high-class field. Throw in the fact that Phil is defending his first big title outside the States and Trevor is going to be there as the reigning Masters champion and you can see that it will be a tough tournament to win. I’ve had a sixth and a fifth in the last two years, so I’m getting closer!” World Number Five, Sergio Garcia: “Last year I really thought it was a great tournament and I really enjoyed visiting Shanghai. I love to play around the world and I am really looking forward to returning to China to play in this world-class event.” World No.11, Adam Scott: “I am very excited to be playing the HSBC Champions for the first time this year. I made sure I could fit it in my schedule as it is one of the most talked about tournaments amongst the players on Tour. It already has a fantastic mix of players and for sure, the ‘Champion of Champions’ title is one I’d love to win.” 2008 Masters Champion, Trevor Immelman: “I am delighted to be able to include the HSBC Champions in my schedule this year. Since the inaugural event in 2005, all the World’s best players have competed there and it is a title everyone is keen to win. Obviously winning the Masters, my first Major title, was the most important moment of my career so far but I aim to build on that success by winning many more titles.” Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the ticket hotline: (+86 21) 962 388 and online at www.hsbcgolf.com