Genworth Stats Pack - Preview Report

Henrik Stenson has competed in this event six times before, with a best of 5th in 2008 (when he ranked 2nd for both Driving Accuracy and Putts per Round). He arrives off the back of an astonishing run of global results that has bolted him up to 4th position on the Official World Golf Rankings, plus a 34th place finish in the first Final Series event last week. Looking at his Genworth Season Statistics, the 37 year old Swedish golfer has been imperious from tee to green whilst playing a tough schedule of events. He has averaged 301 yards for Driving Distance, 73.0% for Greens in Regulation and 24.4% for Par 5’s in 2 - all leading to an overall Stroke Average ranking of 7th and a Par 5 Scoring ranking of 1st.

Recently married Graeme McDowell has competed in this event five times before, with a best of 3rd here in 2011 (where he putted the best of all the players in the field). The 34 year old golfer from Northern Ireland arrives having already collected three global victories this year, but recent form has not been quite up to the usual high standards (with finishes of CUT / 47th / 57th / 53rd coming into the week). Looking at his Genworth Season Statistics, the 9 time European Tour winner has driven the ball very accurately considering he has played the toughest of schedules, but the other categories have perhaps been a little more erratic.

Justin Rose has competed in this event twice before, with a best of 7th in 2011 over this Sheshan International course (for which he ranked 3rd for Driving Accuracy and 4th for Greens in Regulation). Looking at his Genworth Season Statistics, the 33 year old English golfer has played a brutal schedule of events, so the figures of 70% for Greens in Regulation, 3.01 for Par 3 Scoring and 70.74 for overall Stroke Average confirm some great consistency in his game. The current world number 5 arrives having been away from the big stage for about a month or so, but even with a little ring rust, he will surely fancy his chances of taking the Race to Dubai crown at the conclusion of The Final Series.

Gonzalo Fdez-Castaño arrives in buoyant mood having won the first of The Final Series events last week at Lake Malaren, where he produced some dazzling all round Genworth Statistics (ranking 3rd for Driving Accuracy, 2nd for Greens in Regulation, 6th for Scrambles and 11th for Putts per Round). That win boosted the 33 year old Spanish golfer up to 4th position on the Race to Dubai and into contention for the big prize at the end of The Final Series. Gonzalo has competed in this event six times before, but surprisingly his best finish is only 28th last year at Mission Hills (and 32nd back in 2005 at this venue). The now 7 time individual European Tour winner will surely be looking to improve on that come Sunday.

Defending champion Ian Poulter has competed in all eight previous HSBC Champions tournaments and he arrives having finished 15th in the first Final Series event last week (where he ranked 1st for Putts per GIR). We will not pass much comment on his Genworth Season Statistics as they have been accumulated over the very toughest schedule of events, but the 37 year old English golfer will be hoping to replicate the astonishing approach play figures of this time last year, when he ranked 1st for Greens in Regulation over the two week period that included this win (all-be-it at Mission Hills rather than here at Sheshan International).

Martin Kaymer won this tournament by three shots the last time it was held at this venue in 2011, and he arrives in confident mood with solid results over recent weeks (including a 13th place finish in the first Final Series event). Looking at his Genworth Season Statistics, the 28 year old German golfer is fast returning to the form that netted him ten European Tour titles between 2008 and 2011. He is averaging 71.0% for Greens in Regulation and 26.2% for Par 5’s in 2, which is leading to very good scoring across the different hole types (Par 3’s / Par 4’s / Par 5’s).

Francesco Molinari has competed in this event five times before, winning at this venue in 2010 (when he ranked 1st for the Genworth Putts per Round statistic and 2nd for Putts per GIR). He arrives to compete off the back of a fantastic 2nd place finish in the first Final Series event just a few days ago, where he also produced some excellent putting figures on the greens. Looking at his Genworth Season Statistics, the 30 year old Italian golfer is deadly accurate off the tee as usual, so if the short stick gets hot once again, we may see Francesco vying for his second WGC – HSBC Champions tournament come Sunday.

Phil Mickelson arrives to compete this week with 43 career wins to his name, as well as being a two-time previous winner of this event (first in 2007 and then again in 2009, both at this venue). Looking at his Genworth Season Statistics, the 43 year old golfer from the United States is averaging 299 yards off the tee, 67.9% for Greens in Regulation and 58.3% for Scrambles - all leading to great scoring on the Par 3’s and Par 5’s and an overall Stroke Average of 70.68 (excellent considering the incredibly difficult schedule of events).

Rory McIlroy has competed in this event three times before at this venue, finishing inside the top five on each occasion (ranking 3rd for Greens in Regulation in 2009, 2nd for Putts per Round in 2010 and 6th for Greens in Regulation in 2011). He arrives off the back of a 2nd place finish in Korea and then a 27th place finish in the first Final Series event last week (where he led the Genworth Greens in Regulation statistic after three rounds). Although Rory has not been at his best so far this year, one thing is for sure, the young superstar knows how to play this course.

Lee Westwood has competed in this event six times before, finishing as runner-up on two of those occasions (both at this venue). He arrives off the back of a steady 24th place performance last week and will no doubt be hoping to emulate the superb tee to green consistency that has almost won him this title twice (in 2007 Lee ranked 1st for the Genworth Greens in Regulation statistic and in 2010 he ranked 4th for the same category). With so many Ryder Cup points on offer, the 22 time European Tour winner will surely be looking for some big finishes over The Final Series.