From left, Yang Yong-eun of South Korea, Tiger Woods of the U.S., Phil Mickelson of... (AP Photo)
SHANGHAI (AP) — Tiger Woods looked out at a conference room above the Shanghai River that was filled with so many photographers and other media that it felt like he was at a major championship.
The HSBC Champions is not quite the same as when he first showed up in 2005.
In its fifth year, it has gone from a tournament sanctioned by four tours to a World Golf Championship that has attracted its strongest field ever, starting with the best two players in the world.
Woods and Phil 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."
The world's No. 1 player helped kick off the week by hitting golf balls into the Shanghai River from "The Bubble," the nickname for the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal. He was joined by past winners of the HSBC Champions, all rivals in their own way — Mickelson, defending champion Sergio Garcia and Y.E. Yang, who rallied to beat Woods in the PGA Championship to give Asia its first major champion.
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 owned the world since this series began in 1999, winning 16 of the 30 WGC individual events he's played. 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."
Expectations are larger than ever, especially after the turnout for the opening press conference at The Bund, the famous riverfront with a state-of-the-art skyline.
AP
