Woods, McIlroy stay away from WGC event
Source: Agencies |
November 1, 2012, Thursday
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Print Edition
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THE WGC Champions is missing some star power this week after Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods decided to skip the World Golf Championship event in Donguan, Guangdong Province.
For the other top golfers in the field, however, the absence of McIlroy, in particular, represents a chance to make up ground in the European Tour money list.
McIlroy and Woods chose to play in a lucrative exhibition event in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou on Monday, a day after competing in tournaments in Shanghai and Malaysia.
Instead of coming to Mission Hills this weekend, McIlroy is in Bulgaria to watch his girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki, play in the WTA's Tournament of Champions, while Woods is making a trip to Singapore for corporate commitments.
McIlroy is scheduled to play next in the Barclays Singapore Open from November 8-11 and will then be aiming to defend his title at the Hong Kong Open the following weekend.
"To have a World Golf Championship in Asia is really important for the sport, to balance the sport out, and to grow," said Giles Morgan, global head of sponsorship and events for HSBC.
"And because it's a World Golf Championship event, it requires the best players to be here."
Ernie Els also said lamented the fact the game's two biggest names weren't there. "You know, you can't play every week. You can't play everywhere," the reigning British Open champion said. "I don't know why they are skipping because it's a wonderful event. It's unfortunate they are not here."
Good opportunity
But other players sensed a good opportunity.
McIlroy is trying to emulate Luke Donald's feat from last year by topping the money lists on the PGA Tour and European Tour in the same season.
The Northern Irishman, who captured his second career major at the PGA Championship in August, has already secured the PGA Tour money title with just over US$8 million, but his lead on the European money list shrank to just over US$1 million after Sweden's Peter Hanson triumphed in Shanghai.
Hanson can pass McIlroy by taking home the US$1.2 million first prize at Donguan. Third-place Justin Rose also has a chance to pass McIlroy. Hanson said that McIlroy's absence in Shenzhen gives him a chance "to close the gap even more."
"Hopefully, I can keep this form going and be up there again Sunday because I will need to keep playing like I did last week to have a chance of catching him, given how well he is playing this year," said the Swede, who has won twice on the European Tour this year and jumped to 17th in the rankings after beginning the year at 42.
Rose, who won the European money title in 2007, is also still in contention for the top spot, though he lost ground in Shanghai, where he finished tied for sixth spot.
He now trails McIlroy by US$1.15 million and, after the WGC, is not planning to play again until the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
The field at Mission Hills is strong despite the absence of the two players at the top, with seven of the world's top 10 golfers in attendance, including Donald, Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson and Australian Adam Scott.
For the other top golfers in the field, however, the absence of McIlroy, in particular, represents a chance to make up ground in the European Tour money list.
McIlroy and Woods chose to play in a lucrative exhibition event in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou on Monday, a day after competing in tournaments in Shanghai and Malaysia.
Instead of coming to Mission Hills this weekend, McIlroy is in Bulgaria to watch his girlfriend, Caroline Wozniacki, play in the WTA's Tournament of Champions, while Woods is making a trip to Singapore for corporate commitments.
McIlroy is scheduled to play next in the Barclays Singapore Open from November 8-11 and will then be aiming to defend his title at the Hong Kong Open the following weekend.
"To have a World Golf Championship in Asia is really important for the sport, to balance the sport out, and to grow," said Giles Morgan, global head of sponsorship and events for HSBC.
"And because it's a World Golf Championship event, it requires the best players to be here."
Ernie Els also said lamented the fact the game's two biggest names weren't there. "You know, you can't play every week. You can't play everywhere," the reigning British Open champion said. "I don't know why they are skipping because it's a wonderful event. It's unfortunate they are not here."
Good opportunity
But other players sensed a good opportunity.
McIlroy is trying to emulate Luke Donald's feat from last year by topping the money lists on the PGA Tour and European Tour in the same season.
The Northern Irishman, who captured his second career major at the PGA Championship in August, has already secured the PGA Tour money title with just over US$8 million, but his lead on the European money list shrank to just over US$1 million after Sweden's Peter Hanson triumphed in Shanghai.
Hanson can pass McIlroy by taking home the US$1.2 million first prize at Donguan. Third-place Justin Rose also has a chance to pass McIlroy. Hanson said that McIlroy's absence in Shenzhen gives him a chance "to close the gap even more."
"Hopefully, I can keep this form going and be up there again Sunday because I will need to keep playing like I did last week to have a chance of catching him, given how well he is playing this year," said the Swede, who has won twice on the European Tour this year and jumped to 17th in the rankings after beginning the year at 42.
Rose, who won the European money title in 2007, is also still in contention for the top spot, though he lost ground in Shanghai, where he finished tied for sixth spot.
He now trails McIlroy by US$1.15 million and, after the WGC, is not planning to play again until the season-ending Dubai World Championship.
The field at Mission Hills is strong despite the absence of the two players at the top, with seven of the world's top 10 golfers in attendance, including Donald, Lee Westwood, Phil Mickelson and Australian Adam Scott.
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