Ian Poulter will return to the event which produced his last European Tour victory when he heads to Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai for the final World Golf Championship of the season, the WGC-HSBC Champions, which this year celebrates its tenth playing.
The Englishman claimed the title at Mission Hills Shenzen in 2012 and finished second back at Sheshan International as defending champion last year, so he is confident of another strong showing at the Shanghai venue, where a purse of US$8.5million is up for grabs.
“I’m looking forward to it,” said Poulter. “I’ve had some great results there, and it would be nice to go one better than I did last year, which means I’ll be walking away with the trophy.
“It’s a course we’ve got to know well; most players have played it a lot. It’s a great track and a good test.
“My motivation level is to win the golf tournament; that’s paramount. I think the Race to Dubai is done and dusted now with Rory being so far ahead, so for me it’s about getting as many world ranking points as I can, because I haven’t done a good job of that this year. I’ve dropped way too far, so I need to play well.”
The WGC-HSBC Champions is the second event of The Race to Dubai’s Final Series, the lucrative four-tournament swing to conclude the 2014 season.
Another player hoping for a strong finish is Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell, who was third 12 months ago behind Poulter and winner Dustin Johnson.
“I’m excited to be going back,” said McDowell. “HSBC are great sponsors and always put on great events. It’s a golf course I always enjoy going back to and there have been a lot of great champions there over the years.
“I’ve got good memories from finishing third last year and my game’s in good shape. I’m a little disappointed with how I finished in the BMW Masters, but all in all I’m taking some good form to Sheshan and I need a good week for The Race to Dubai and other various reasons.”
The star-studded field also boasts Jamie Donaldson and Justin Rose, who shared fourth spot in the BMW Masters, US Open Champion Martin Kaymer and their Ryder Cup team-mates Sergio Garcia, Victor Dubuisson, Henrik Stenson, Thomas Bjørn and Stephen Gallacher.
