Yang returns to venue of his finest hour

Defending champion Yang Yong-eun of Korea hopes to rekindle his love-affair with the HSBC Champions when he bids for back-to-back victories against a world-class line-up on Thursday.

Yang, 35, enjoyed the highlight of his golfing career when he triumphed at the Sheshan International Golf Club last year, beating world number one Tiger Woods in the final round, and he is ready to repeat his winning performance at the US$5 million event.

“It’s great to return here as I have so many good memories from last year. I felt really at home playing on this course and I hope it will be the same this year. I played solid throughout the four days and I am determined to repeat that run this week,” said Yang, who is ranked 94th in the world.

Yang, who turned professional in 1996, knows he needs to reproduce his best this week as 10 of the world’s top-20 players will gather for the HSBC Champions.

The cream of the crop in Shanghai include world number two Phil Mickelson of the United States, South African Ernie Els, who is ranked fourth in the world and the 2007 HSBC World Match Play Champion, Argentinean and US Open winner Angel Cabrera, British Open champion Padraig Harrington of Ireland, Retief Goosen of South Africa and Fijian star Vijay Singh, who is ranked 10th in the world.

Malaysia’s Airil Rizman, who earned his spot after his win at the Pakistan Open in January, and fellow first time winners on the Asian Tour Artemio Murakami and Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines be in the thick of the fray alongside China’s top stars Zhang Lian-wei and Liang Wen-chong, who currently leads the Asian Tour’s UBS Order of Merit race.

Yang believes his game is ready for the rigours of the challenging and lengthy 18-hole championship course.

“My swing is back in shape as I was struggling with my driving previously. But I’m in good shape now and I hope to take it hole by hole like what I did last year. My aim is to be in the top-10 after three rounds, and once I’m in contention, I will strive for the top spot once again,” said Yang.

Pagunsan, the Asian Tour’s Rookie of the Year in 2006, is set to ride on his momentum heading into Shanghai after his maiden Asian Tour triumph in Jakarta last month where he won the Pertamina Indonesia President Invitational.

“I was calm and relaxed in Jakarta in all four rounds and I hope to adopt a similar strategy here. I will not be distracted by the array of stars and focus on my game.

“I’m really excited to play here. Since my win in Indonesia, I’ve been paired with some of the top players in the world like how it was last week when I was paired with Lee Westwood. I hope to learn from them and as it’s my first time here, I would like to impress,” said Pagunsan.

Malaysia’s Airil, who is also making his maiden appearance at the HSBC Champions, is the first player from his country to qualify for the event and aims to shoot for a big pot of the US$5 million on offer.

“The odds are against some of the Asian players here with the strong wind and really cold weather. This is a good course, it’s challenging and lengthy. I will have to make the fairways for a solid round and I hope to stay away from the rough all four days,” said Airil.

The other Asian Tour stalwarts in the elite field include India’s Gaurav Ghei who will be gunning for his second successful outing in China after his win at the Pine Valley Beijing Open in April and the Thai trio of Chapchai Nirat, Thongchai Jaidee and Thaworn Wiratchant.

The HSBC Champions is a special event on the Asian Tour schedule and does not count towards the UBS Order of Merit race.

November 6, 2007

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