Also making progress was Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa who upset the odds by seeing off the challenge of American Bill Haas one-up while 14-time Major champion Tiger Woods made it through after a similarly close contest with Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano. But it was a bad day for defending champion and world number one Luke Donald, who was thrashed 5 and 4 by Ernie Els.

Also making early exits from the elite 64-man field were Koreans Choi Kyung-ju and Kim Kyung-tae. Choi was upset 2 and 1 by American Kyle Stanley while Kim suffered a 5 and 3 drubbing at the hands of Denmark’s Anders Hansen.

Ishikawa was given little chance against Haas, last year’s FedEx Cup champion and winner of last week’s Northern Trust Open. The 20-year-old Japanese was behind most of the match and found himself three-down after 13 holes. But he birdied the next two holes, sticking his approach shot at the 14th to two feet, then rolling in a 12-foot putt at the 15th. At the 17th, he squared the match with an 18-foot birdie putt, then won with a par when Haas missed the green with his approach shot at the 18th and couldn’t get up and down.

While it’s the second consecutive year Haas has lost in the opening round, Ishikawa has a second round match against Scotsman Paul Lawrie, winner of the Commercialbank Qatar Masters three weeks ago. Lawrie, who is making his first appearance in the tournament since 2003, said: “It’s great, but there is no point in playing these events if you are not going to play very well.”

Few tipped sixth-seeded Poulter, the champion at Dove Mountain two years ago and a European Ryder Cup stalwart, to slip up against Bae. But the young Korean was in supreme form and now looks forward to a contest with South African Charl Schwartzel, the current US Masters champion.

Poulter was his own worst enemy against Bae, who was making his World Golf Championships debut. Poulter was haunted by five bogeys as he suffered his worst loss in nine starts in this event. The match was all square through 10 holes, but that’s when Poulter unravelled. He bogeyed the par-five 11th when he went out of bounds with his second shot. Another bogey followed at 12 when he found a greenside bunker and he also dropped a shot at the 14th when he missed a putt inside five feet to save par. Suddenly, the 11th-seeded Bae was three-up and he closed it out with just his second birdie of the day, this one from seven feet

For the second year running, Northern Ireland’s former US Open champion was beaten by Yang, having exited to the same player in the third round last year.

McDowell led after five holes, but Yang took control with birdies on the next two and then a par at the 476-yard ninth, where Europe’s Ryder Cup hero double-bogeyed.

A six-foot birdie putt on the short 12th brought the gap back to one, but it was the closest McDowell could get and a superb approach to four feet on the 17th allowed the 2009 US PGA champion to close things out with a birdie. “I’m playing good – today is a big mountain over,” said Yang, who will now face American Hunter Mahan.

Three-time winner Woods will not tackle Nick Watney. In a generally scrappy first-round match, Woods lost the first two holes but hit back to lead by one after eight. He then hit wild shots and lost the 10th and 11th, but took the 15th and 16th and just held on. Bunkered in two on the last with Fernandez-Castano only nine feet away, he splashed out superbly down the slope to eight feet and was the one to make his putt.

McDowell was out of the 64-man event before top two seeds Donald and Rory McIlroy had even started against South Africans Els and George Coetzee respectively.

“I made six birdies today, I played decent golf but I ran into a man that played extremely well,” said McDowell. “I felt like I had to follow him all day long, and I did most of the day, but he didn’t put a foot wrong. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles with this tournament. He seems to have my number a little bit – and I have a tendency to bring out the best in guys around this track for some reason.”

SECOND-ROUND DRAW

Bobby Jones Bracket

Ernie Els v Peter Hanson; Kyle Stanley v Brandt Snedeker; Robert Rock v Mark Wilson; Dustin Johnson v Francesco Molinari

Ben Hogan Bracket

Martin Kaymer v David Toms; Matt Kuchar v Bubba Watson; Steve Stricker v Louis Oosthuizen; Yang Yong-eun v Hunter Mahan

Gary Player Bracket

Rory McIlroy v Anders Hansen; Miguel Angel Jimenez v Keegan Bradley; Jason Day v John Senden; Charl Schwartzel v Bae Sang-moon

Sam Snead Bracket

Lee Westwood v Robert Karlsson; Nick Watney v Tiger Woods; Matteo Manassero v Martin Laird; Ryo Ishikawa v Paul Lawrie

It’s a sequence she plans on ending this week in the fifth edition of the US$1.4 million event. “Every year I come here, I find a way to play this golf course. Every year I’m learning from this golf course. I feel like I’m learning and I know what is my strategy on this golf course better than the first couple of years,” said Tseng, who posted her first win of the year in last week’s Honda LPGA Thailand.

“Every year, I just find a better way to play on this golf course and I feel every year it comes a little easier. I think you need to be very patient and more focused on this golf course, because it’s kind of easy to get high numbers on this golf course.”

The 23-year-old now boasts 13 career LPGA victories – including eight in the last 12 months – and leads the race for a third-consecutive Rolex Player of the Year award. “Last week, it was a good start for me and I think that’s very important for me that I know I can keep winning tournaments, keep playing good golf and have mental set up and mentally be tough,” she said.

Although there are nine players from the top-10 in the Rolex Rankings in the elite 63-player field, few are prepared to bet against Tseng ending her winless drought in Singapore.

American Paula Creamer, the world’s sixth-ranked player, said of Tseng: “She’s a fantastic golfer and not only that, she’s a good person. She’s the number one player in the world. That’s the people that I look at, people that are better.”

Creamer and Tseng were among a group of players who showcased over US$11million of Tiffany & Co jewellery at a fashion show at the Raffles Hotel during the Welcome Reception for this week’s HSBC Women’s Champions.

Canadian Ron Harvey Jnr made the most of his playing opportunity on the Asian Tour by carding a 66 to take second place while Swede Rikard Karlberg renewed his love affair with India by signing for a 67 to take third place at the Delhi Golf Club.

Australian Scott Hend, seeking his second Asian Tour win, returned with a 68 to take a share of fourth place alongside four Indians at the US$300,000 full field Asian Tour event.

Lahiri was delighted with his opening performance as he used to admit finding it difficult to tame the greens at the Delhi Golf Club. However, since lifting his maiden title at the venerable course last year, and with the monkey off his back, the Indian believes that he can go on and contend for the title again.

“I’ve been getting more and more comfortable at Delhi Golf Club and when I come here I feel positive now as compared to this whole aura of negativity that I was always attached to earlier. I feel that I’m in better control of my game plan and I’m much more assured of what to hit off the tee,” said Lahiri.

Lahiri, who also led by one at the same stage last year, is confident he can continue to put up another assured performance as the week goes on. “I’m happy with the way I’ve played today. I hit it really solid. I missed a couple of greens but I managed to get up and down. I’m just happy that I played well today and I hope that I can just come out tomorrow and play another solid round of golf,” said Lahiri.

Meanwhile, Harvey, who tied for 16th at Qualifying School last month, is excited that his rookie season is getting off to a good start. “This is an Asian Tour event and I want to carry that same attitude of doing well every week. I could have had a good weekend in Myanmar as I was leading through 27 holes but fell out of contention. However, I took a lot of positive out of that and I’m glad it ‘s paying off today,” said the 28-year-old, who took the morning lead.

Playing at the Delhi Golf Club for the first time, the Canadian was pleased that he was able to execute a successful game plan. “I played really conservative today and it’s a lot easier when you hit onto the fairways all day. I used lots of three and four-irons and only hit two or three woods and I guess that made it seemed a lot easier,” said Harvey.

Karlberg returned to the scene of his maiden triumph ready to repeat the performances which led to him winning twice at the Delhi Golf Club in 2010.

“There’s something about India that makes me play well here. It’s just my tempo which I always try to maintain throughout the round. I’m very composed especially when I play here at Delhi Golf Club,” said Karlberg, a two-time Asian Tour winner. “I feel really relaxed and happy when I get to play here. Maybe that explains why I play so well in India,” added the 2010 Asian Tour Rookie of the Year.

Hend posted his best round at the Delhi Golf Club but felt that he could have signed for an even better score if not for a wrong club selection and a miscommunication with his caddie. “I let a really good round get away by two really stupid mistakes. But it’s always good to shoot under-par here in Delhi Golf Club and 68 is the best score I’ve ever shot here,” said the Australian.

“At the 13th, I took a club off the tee which I’ve never really used before. I tried to hit a three-wood when I usually used a driver. I pulled it into the trees and I made a double-bogey and then on the last hole I had a bit of miscommunication with my caddie and I three-putted from about 25 feet,” lamented Hend.

While the former is the first World Golf Championships (WGC) event of 2012, the latter has been dubbed as ‘Asia’s Major’ championship. Essentially, both tournaments showcase La Crème de la Crème of the game.

In the pecking order of men’s golf, we have the four Major championships followed by the four WGC gatherings which, in theory, attract all of the game’s leading lights.

Well that’s almost true of the Accenture Match Play where 62 of the world’s 64 top-ranked players line up. The exceptions are Phil Mickelson and Paul Casey, whose places have been gratefully taken by South Africans Ernie Els and George Coetzee.

The top four seeds are all European, with world number one Luke Donald hoping to repeat the victory that proved the catalyst for his annus mirabilis in 2011.

For America, Bill Haas, winner of last week’s Northern Trust Open, Dustin Johnson and Steve Stricker all have their backers. But you can bet that the most followed player at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club will be Tiger Woods.

Surprisingly, Woods does not have a great match play record. But if the 14-time Major winner is to begin rebuilding an aura of invincibility, then Dove Mountain would be as good a place as any to get the ball rolling.

A total of 42 international players representing 13 countries are included in the 64-man field with KJ Choi, Kim Kyung-tae, Bae Sang-moon and YE Yang flying the flag for Korea and Ryo Ishikawa the sole Japanese starter.

Asian prospects of a victory will be considerably greater at the award-winning Tanam Merah Country Club where a limited field of 63 contests the fifth edition of the HSBC Women’s Champions.

Much to the chagrin of many Asians the tournament is not actually considered as an ‘official’ Major – even though most of the players say it’s worthy of such status.

Just consider that 18 of the top-20 from the Rolex Rankings and 49 of the top-50 ranked players from last year’s final LPGA Tour Money List are competing in the Singapore stroke play showpiece.

Although Australian Karrie Webb is the defending champion, it’s difficult really to look beyond Tseng Ya-ni when trying to pick a winner this week. The Taiwanese world number one performed imperiously for the final three days of last week’s Honda LPGA Thailand to claim her first win of 2012. It seems inevitable that a whole bunch more will follow.

The fact that she has not yet triumphed over what was voted the Best Course in Singapore in the 2011 Asian Golf Monthly Awards is a surprising gap in Tseng’s resume – and one that she’s anxious to put right.

On current form, very few would dare bet against her, although past HSBC Women’s winners Ai Miyazato and Shin Ji-yai Both showed excellent form last week and will also be brimming with confidence.

On a more low-key note, the venerable Delhi Golf Club is the venue for the SAIL-SBI Open, co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and the Professional Golf Tour of India.

Given that the fifth edition of the event was only confirmed last week, there’s been precious little build up.

Nonetheless, it’s a chance for Asian players to restore some confidence after their poor showing in last week’s Avantha Masters when only Prom Meesawat and Kiradech Aphibarnrat ended in the top-13.

Having posted his maiden Asian Tour win in last year’s event, Kiradech has plenty of cause for optimism while home hopes will be spearheaded by Anirban Lahiri, the leading Indian last week in joint 22nd.

Joining reigning Open champion Clarke and 2009 US PGA champion Yang in the Korean capital from April 26-29 will be world number eight Adam Scott, of Australia, who makes his debut at the event, and world number 10 Dustin Johnson, the American Ryder Cup player who finished fourth at Blackstone last year.

Also adding to the vintage will be Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez, last year’s runner-up, and his Ryder Cup team-mate Ian Poulter, who have amassed 29 European Tour titles between them.

The world-class field, headlined by the six star names, underlines the growing reputation of the Ballantine’s Championship, which returns to Blackstone Golf Club for a second successive year.

Christian Porta, CEO of Chivas Brothers, said: “The Ballantine’s Championship has truly established itself as one of Asia’s biggest golf tournaments by continuing to attract the world’s best players. We are delighted to support this prestigious event as part of our long-term investment in world-class golf.”

Clarke, who lifted the Claret Jug at Royal St George’s last July, is relishing his debut in the tournament, with the Northern Irishman aiming to add the title to his previous success in Asia at the 2008 BMW Asian Open. He will also hope to celebrate the Ballantine’s Championship’s fifth anniversary edition by following in the footsteps of compatriot and fellow Major champion Graeme McDowell, who won the inaugural tournament in 2008.

“The Ballantine’s Championship is a new opportunity for me and somewhere that I’m very excited to go to,” said Clarke. “It’ll be great to go there as the Open champion. The Claret Jug has been travelling around the world quite a lot with me so it’ll be great to take it to another place that hasn’t seen it before.

“I have heard a lot of good things about the course at Blackstone. It is tough but fair, with a lot of risk and reward so you’ve got to think a little bit and figure out your way around it, which I will look forward to. From what the other guys have said, Ballantine’s put on a fantastic event and I’m sure this year will be no different, so I’m certainly looking forward to going there and seeing how good the tournament is.”

While the Korean fans will be eager to see the Open champion, their support will undoubtedly be behind home favourite Yang, who became the first Asian to win a Major championship when he famously held off Tiger Woods at Hazeltine National three years ago. The 40-year-old, who won the 2007 HSBC Champions in Shanghai and the 2010 Volvo China Open in Suzhou, will be keen to put on a show for his compatriots after missing the cut in each of the past two Ballantine’s Championships.

Jimenez and Johnson return to Korea hoping to improve on last year when they came up just short behind champion Lee Westwood, with Jimenez missing a 15-foot birdie opportunity on the last hole to take the tournament into a play-off.

Johnson was a further two shots back and he will return hoping to become the first American winner of the Ballantine’s Championship, adding his name to a trophy previously won by Northern Ireland’s McDowell (2008), Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee (2009), Australian Marcus Fraser (2010) and Englishman Westwood (2011).

Meanwhile, Poulter and Scott will both be seeking further silverware in Asia, having won the UBS Hong Kong Open and Barclays Singapore Open respectively in 2010. Debutant Scott will be determined to build on an impressive 2011 campaign during which he won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, while the highlight of Poulter’s year was his victory in the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Spain.

Following another top-10 finish last week, the defending champion believes he is capable of a grandstand finish at the Delhi Golf Club after a solid run of early season form. “I’m really excited about coming back here to defend my title. This is my first time returning as the defending champion and I’ll do my best,” said Kiradech.

Kiradech narrowly missed out on his second win in Myanmar last month and was in contention at the half-way stage at the Avantha Masters last week.

The Thai is hopeful that another win could be on the cards for him this week. “I’m enjoying myself in India. I’ve gained a lot of confidence from last week and I’ve been putting really well, which is important,” said Kiradech.

Meanwhile, Indian Manav Jaini is determined to make up for last year’s heartbreak where he missed out on his maiden title at the Delhi Golf Club. The Indian was agonisingly close to winning his first Asian Tour title at the Panasonic Open India but fell short in a three-way play-off.

Having played in all four rounds at the Avantha Masters last week, Jaini is upbeat about his chances as he will be teeing off on his home course where he has intimate knowledge. “I was feeling a little low in confidence going into the competition last week. But having made the cut there and every time I come back to the Delhi Golf Club, I’m always feeling a lot better about my game,” said Jaini.

While confidence and form is important, Jaini also knows that he has to contend with the elements. “The windy conditions are the toughest conditions at the Delhi Golf Club because of the nature of the golf course. The winds swirl a lot out here and you are always second guessing. That’s going to make the golf course very tough to play,” said Jaini.

Chiragh Kumar, who burst onto the scene when he charged into contention at the Hero Indian Open at the half-way stage and finished second, is anxious to bounce back to form. “I haven’t been in the best of form the last few weeks and I’m hoping that things would change for me this week. I’ve been feeling frustrated with everything that has been going on with my game but I’m feeling better now and hopefully it’ll be a good week,” said Kumar.

Among other potential contenders are Singapore’s Mardan Mamat, 12-time Asian Tour winner Thaworn Wiratchat of Thailand, and Bangladeshi Siddikur, who has finished seventh and eighth on the Order of Merit in the past two seasons.

The history-maker from Dhaka, the first Bangladeshi to win on the Asian Tour, is eager to return to winning ways and hopes that he can end his two-year title drought this week. “Two years is a long time since my last win and I’m starting to get impatient. I’ve been playing well and hopefully this can be my week again,” said Siddikur, second at the SAIL-SBI Open last year.

World number one Tseng Ya-ni, defending champion Karrie Webb and two other leading contenders – Suzann Pettersen and Michelle Wie – completed a world map with orchids and ribbons and then exchanged Singapore’s national flower, the Vanda Miss Joaquim orchid, with each other to symbolise the way the HSBC event brings the best talent from all over the world to compete in the Lion City.

“The ribbons and orchids are the roadmap to one of the best weeks of the year for us,” said Tseng, winner of two Majors last year. “You will find the best players in the world – players from all over the world – challenging this week. This is only the fifth year for the event, but the winners have all been such great players and every tournament has been so good that it has quickly become a tournament that the top players particularly want to win. I know I certainly do!” added the Taiwanese star, LPGA Player of the Year and winner of seven LPGA tournaments in 2011.

Over the course of the previous four tournaments, the HSBC Women’s Champions has developed a roll of honour almost unrivalled in the world of golf. All of the winners – Lorena Ochoa in 2008, Shin Ji-yai in 2009, Ai Miyazato in 2010 and Webb last year – belong to the exclusive club of players to have been at the very top of the women’s game and all have gone on to win again in the year of their Singapore triumphs.

“HSBC’s goal was to create truly international events and world-class golf tournaments in emerging markets, and the HSBC Women’s Champions, just like the WGC-HSBC Champions in China, has done just that. Both tournaments have also played a leading role in the growth and expansion of top-level tournament golf in Asia,” said Giles Morgan, HSBC’s Group Head of Sponsorship. “We’re really proud to be playing a role in spearheading the growth and development of golf in markets outside the sport’s traditional heartlands and helping to showcase vibrant and exciting cities like Singapore to the world,” he added.

Webb, who showed as much promise as Tseng early in her career, setting records for being at the time the youngest player to qualify for the World Golf Hall of Fame and the youngest player to earn the Career Grand Slam of Majors, says the tournament succeeds in showcasing the best that Singapore has to offer. “It’s not just a great tournament, it’s a great week. We get looked after very, very well. We stay in a wonderful hotel, there’s great hospitality and we play on a fabulous, challenging golf course. On top of that, Singapore just does a great job of making us feel very, very welcome,” said the 37-year-old Australian.

Alex Hungate, Group General Manager and Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Singapore, said: “The fact that the golfers enjoy the Singapore experience is important, because in turn it enhances the experience of the fans, and our clients, customers and staff. HSBC views sponsorship both as an investment to help sustain and grow our business and as an opportunity to connect with our customers and colleagues in the local communities which we serve.”

To signal the official launch of the tournament week, Tseng and Webb were joined by world number two Pettersen and Wie.

For Wie, as a native of Hawaii, doing it with flowers was a familiar experience as the islands traditionally great visitors with a lei, the garland of flowers symbolising love, respect and spiritual connection. “There always seems to be a special connection when we launch this week. Last year I was connecting with my family roots by wearing a traditional Korean Hanbok. This year I’m connecting with my Hawaiian roots through flowers,” said the 22-year-old American.

In the last event on the Asia schedule before the sixth Grand Final at Shenzhen’s Mission Hills Golf Club (March 14-16), Bangkok-based Sittipong (76-70) birdied the final hole of a brilliant four-under-par back nine to win by one over Tawan Phongphun (77-70) and Seattapong Tsailexthm (74-73).

Past girls’ champion Thidapa Suwannapura attended the tournament to share her experiences of turning professional with the players.
Thidapa, winner of the FSA girls’ title in 2010, spent time with the 95 competitors during the tournament. The Thai touring professional also conducted a clinic for local children, part of a drive to create access to the game for a younger audience.

Sittipong, 17, will be joined in Shenzhen by four other age-group winners from the fourth Thailand Championship: Mokarin Huaykrathok (Girls’ Under-21) from Lopburi and Thanadol Songkoranee (Boys’ Under-16), Wad Phawchimplee (Girls’ Under-16) and Wanatsakrit Silraparangson (Boys’ Under-21), all from Bangkok. The 20-year-old Wanatsakrit survived a five-hole sudden-death play-off to secure his spot.

The 2011/2012 FSA schedule featured 17 tournaments in 13 countries including five in mainland China plus others in the Philippines, Vietnam, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Brunei, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Pakistan, Indonesia and Thailand. Six-time Major champion Sir Nick Faldo will host the Grand Final, a World Amateur Golf Ranking event.

LEADING FINAL-ROUND SCORES

Boys’ Under-21: 151 – Wanatsakrit Silraparangson 77-74, Kasidis Leabkrut 76-75; 158 – Pathompong Saisakoldeth 77-81.
Boys’ Under-18: 146 – Sittipong Wiangchanok 76-70; 147 – Tawan Phongphun 77-70, Seattapong Tsailexthm 74-73.
Boys’ Under-16: 148 – Thanadol Songkoranee 72-76; 149 – Tisjaras Kovitpakornkul 74-75, Smithti Teeratrakul 73-76.
Girls’ Under-21: 148 – Mokarin Huaykrathok 73-75; 152 – Saraporn Chamchoi 73-79.
Girls’ Under-16: 153 – Wad Phawchimplee 76-77; 156 – Pannapa Polnamin 75-81.

Defying strong winds and torrential rain, Inokawa fired rounds of 75 and 72 for a three-over-par total of 147, topping the Boys’ 15-19 Division in what was the first ‘major’ championship of the spring season.

“My putting worked really well for me today, and I just tried to make par-par-par. It really was one of my best rounds ever,” said Inokawa for whom it was the second victory in as many weeks having also won the Georgia Open at Savannah Harbour.

Over the tree-lined Turtle Point Course, where it is essential to keep the ball in play as out of bounds lurks on every hole, Inokawa signed for a three-over 75.

He continued that solid form into the final round, held over Kiawah’s famed Ocean Course, venue for the 1991 Ryder Cup and host to this year’s US PGA Championship in August.

Thailand’s Saravit Kerdsinchai finished joint second just one shot back after rounds of 75 and 73.

There was more success for Asia in the Girls Division which was won by Japan’s Moyu Sasaki.

Sasaki battled the elements by grinding out rounds of 77 and 74 for a seven-over total of 151. Sasaki is no stranger to winning big events, as she was victorious in the Fourth Annual Hank Haney Invitational at Harbour Town Golf Links.

Fellow Japanese Saya Aono shot a first round 74 on the Turtle Point course and a final round 78 on the Ocean Course for an eight-over 152, giving her second place honours. Completing a Japanese sweep of the top three places was Ayaka Nakayama on 154 (79 and 75).

South African Lee-Anne Pace, the 2010 Ladies European Tour (LET) Order of Merit winner, and China number one Feng Shanshan are also primed to participate over the Vintage Course at Mission Hills Hainan.

Co-sanctioned by the LET and China LPGA Tour, the WLC’s 108-player field will also feature players from the LPGA Tours of the US, Korea and Japan.

Conceived by Mission Hills, the WLC is a ground-breaking event designed to support the further development of tournament golf – both in China and around the world – ahead of golf’s return to the Olympics in 2016.

The WLC will adopt a unique three-in-one game format that will see players competing as individuals as well as for the pride of their country. There will be concurrent, 54-hole competitions in three categories – individual professional stroke play, individual amateur stroke play and professional teams.

As the event is a stroke play competition, professional players taking part in the team event will be competing against their playing partners in the solo competition for the individual professional title.

The professional team competition will see England’s Reid, who finished second on last year’s LET Money List, join forces with up-and-coming compatriot Florentyna Parker. Reid said: “I’m really excited to be coming to Mission Hills Hainan for the World Ladies Championships. I’ve never been to Mission Hills before and I’ve heard so many great things about it that it will be good to finally see it for myself.

“It’s always great to play in a team event. It’s something that we don’t often get to do once we turn professional. Florentyna and I have known each other since we were about 13-years-old so we go back a long way and we will be very comfortable playing with each other.”

Reid and Parker will face tough competition from the South African pair of Pace and Ashleigh Simon. Pace said: “I can’t wait to start at the WLC. China is a lucky place for me as I’ve won two championships there already. I’ve heard a lot about Mission Hills, they have excellent courses and state-of-the-art training facilities – all which I look forward to seeing.”

One player who has already made her mark in Hainan is Frances Bondad, who won the 2011 Sanya Open and she will team-up with fellow Australian Nikki Garrett. Bondad said: “We have a very strong Aussie contingent in Haikou. Not only are we competitive with each other, but very supportive as well. I always play well in China so I could be up there!”

Also looking forward to taking part is 14-year-old New Zealander Ko. The top-ranked golfer in the women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, Ko last month became one of the youngest ever winners of a professional Tour event with a four-shot victory in the Women’s New South Wales Open.

January also saw her become the youngest winner of the Australian Women’s Amateur following a second place finish in the Australian Women’s Stroke Play Championship. She will compete in the individual amateur competition as one of eight elite amateurs in the field.
With golf returning to the Olympic Games in 2016, Ko believes that the WLC provides her with a great development opportunity. She said: “I think getting amateurs to play with professionals is only going to be good for the game. It inspires us to work harder and realise that we are not far off their level.

“This only pushes me as a player to work hard and improve my skills more so that when it is time to match it with professional players, I can. The Olympic Games in 2016 has been a goal for me ever since it was announced that golf was returning to the Olympics. To represent New Zealand would be an honour.”

Headlining a stellar cast is world number one Tseng Ya-ni, winner of 12 titles last year and triumphant in last week’s Honda LPGA Thailand at Siam Country Club.

Also in excellent form in Thailand were Korean Shin Ji-yai and Japan’s Ai Miyazato, both former winners of the HSBC Women’s Champions who will arrive in the Lion City in confident mood.

Other confirmed starters include world number two Suzann Pettersen, world number three Choi Na-yeon, world number four Cristie Kerr, world number five Paula Creamer and crowd favourites Michelle Wie and Natalie Gulbis.

A total of 49 of the top-50 ranked players on last year’s final LPGA Official Money List will compete over the Garden Course, voted Best Course in Singapore in the 2011 Asian Golf Monthly Awards. The elite 63-player field comprises players of 18 nationalities who between them have won more than 450 international tournaments and 36 Major titles.

Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship at HSBC, said: “We are very much looking forward to seeing this elite field compete for a title that has, so far, only been won by players who have held the number one ranking. We try to make our tournaments a special experience not only for our customers and spectators, but also for the players and I think that the entry list shows that the HSBC Women’s Champions has developed into a tournament that no one wants to miss.

“The players are the most important part of any tournament and, with this incredible line-up, we really feel we have all the ingredients to have our best ever HSBC Women’s Champions.”

The 25-year-old South African broke into the winner’s enclosure with a long-awaited victory at the DLF Golf and Country Club in India on Sunday to shoot to the top of the Merit list with earnings of US$394,589.

Victory was especially sweet for Kruger as he has endured several agonising near misses on the Asian Tour, most notably in 2010 where he settled for three runner-up finishes. “My main goal on the Asian Tour is to win the Order of Merit as I think this win is definitely going to help me achieve that. I also want to get as high as I can in the world rankings,” said Kruger, who rose 50 places up to 109th following his success.

With the monkey off his back, the slightly-built but supremely powerful Kruger is determined to ride on his rich vein of form and win more titles. “It’s a big relief now that I’ve won, but I think I needed all those second place finishes to be able to appreciate it. I’m in good form and I want to be up there against the best,” said Kruger, who was fourth on the Asian Tour Order of Merit last season.

Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat moved up two places to third on the rankings and will start his title defence at this week’s SAIL-SBI Open, also in India, in high spirits following another top-10 finish over the weekend. “I’m in good shape and playing well. I tend to play well in India and hopefully I can successfully defend my title at the Delhi Golf Club,” said Kiradech, beaten in a play-off at the season-opening Zaykabar Myanmar Open.

Compatriot Prom Meesawat made the biggest move of the week when he surged 89 spots to fourth, thanks to a tied-sixth finish at the Avantha Masters which was sanctioned with the European Tour and PGTI. The ‘Big Dolphin’, as he is fondly known to his friends, is coming into the early season physically stronger and motivated because of a new training regime. “I’ve been going to the gym regularly and I’ve bulked up quite a bit. I also feel stronger, probably because of my muscles and I feel that my stamina is getting better,” said Prom.

“I’m looking forward to this season because I’ve such a wonderful start and I want it to continue,” added the burly Thai.

The Asian Tour remains in India for the US$300,000 SAIL-SBI Open at the Delhi Golf Club, an event co-sanctioned with the PGTI.

ASIAN TOUR ORDER OF MERIT (Leading standings)

1, Jbe KRUGER (RSA) US$394,589; 2, Marcus FRASER (AUS) US$109,380; 3, Kiradech APHIBARNRAT (THA) US$67,863; 4, Prom MEESAWAT (THA) US$67,487; 5, Mardan MAMAT (SIN) US$56,962; 6, Kieran PRATT (AUS) US$53,468; 7, Chawalit PLAPHOL (THA) US$37,571; 8. Marcus BOTH (AUS) US$36,750; 9, Adam BLYTH (AUS) US$34,875; 10, Chapchai NIRAT (THA) US$33,915; 11, MO Joong-kyung (KOR) US$33,510; 12, SIDDIKUR (BAN) US$31,406; 13, Felipe AGUILAR (CHI) US$29,546; 14, Zaw MOE (MYN) US$27,717; 15, Scott HEND (AUS) US$27,039; 16, Anirban LAHIRI (IND) US$26,127; 17, Prayad MARKSAENG (THA) US$21,282; 18, Berry HENSON (USA) US$20,775; 19, Arnond VONGVANIJ (THA) US$20,225; 20, Ben FOX (USA) US$20,088.

Victories around the world by Brand Ambassadors on the European, South African and Australasian Tours, as well as wins by golf ball loyalists Tseng Ya-ni and Kenny Perry, provided continued proof that when it comes to performance excellence, the overwhelming choice is Titleist.

Haas rolled in a 45-foot birdie putt on the second hole of a three-way play-off to capture the Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. Haas closed with a two-under 69 to finish at seven-under 277. He was on the practice range warming up when his eventual play-off partners drained putts of 26 and 12 feet, respectively, to force extra holes.

The reigning FedEx Cup champion, Haas captured his fourth career PGA Tour title and advanced to 12th in the Official World Golf Ranking following the win. He has won at least one PGA Tour event in each of the last three years.

The tournament was decided on the 312-yard 10th hole. While it can be reached with a drive, it’s all about position – and none of the three were in a good spot. Haas went long into thick rough, with enough of the back bunker in his way that he smartly played out to the right and left himself a long birdie putt that at least would assure him par. After Haas converted his putt, the drama continued as he had to wait and watch one participant fail to hole a bunker shot and the other miss a putt from just off the green.

What’s in Bill Haas’ Titleist Bag?: Pro V1x golf ball, 910D2 (8.5) driver, 910F (13.5) fairway metal, CB (2-P) irons, Vokey Design Spin Milled sand (54) and lob (60) wedges, Scotty Cameron Kombi long putter.

EUROPEAN TOUR: Titleist Brand Ambassador Jbe Kruger captured his first career European Tour title, firing a three-under 69 that gave him a two-stroke victory at the Avantha Masters in New Delhi. The 25-year old South African, who held the 54-hole lead, finished with a 14-under 274 total, two strokes clear of two players, including fellow Pro V1x loyalist Marcel Siem. Kruger’s previous best finish on the European Tour was a third place showing at the 2010 Africa Open.

What’s in Jbe Kruger’s Titleist Bag?: Pro V1x golf ball, 910D3 (7.5) driver, 910F (13.5) fairway metal, 910H (18) hybrid, AP2 (3-P) irons, Vokey Design SM4 approach (50), sand (56) and lob (64) wedges.

LPGA TOUR: Top-ranked Tseng Ya-ni successfully defended her Honda LPGA Thailand title for her first win of the year and the13th of her short but illustrious LPGA career. The 23-year-old Titleist Pro V1x golf ball loyalist birdied the final two holes to close with a six-under 66 en route to a 19-under 269 victory total. The one-shot win marked the 33rd of her career worldwide.

Shin Ji-yai (Pro V1), playing in the group in front of Tseng, closed with a 67 to finish in solo third place, two strokes behind the champion. Fellow South Korean Amy Yang (Pro V1) shot a final round 69 to finish in solo fouth place, as three of the top four finishers relied upon Titleist golf balls for their success.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Titleist Pro V1x loyalist Kenny Perry captured his second career Champions Tour title, cruising to a five-shot win at the ACE Group Classic. After opening with rounds of 64 and 62 to break the Tour’s 36-hole record at 18-under 126, Perry closed with a two-under 70 in windy conditions to top 2011 winner Bernhard Langer (Pro V1). Perry tied the tournament record for largest margin of victory which stood since 1999. He also tied Langer’s tournament scoring record set last year.

SOUTH AFRICAN TOUR: Titleist Brand Ambassador Oliver Bekker (Pro V1x, 910D3 driver, 910F fairway metal, MB irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron putter) captured his maiden Sunshine Tour victory when he fired a final round two-under 70 to capture the Dimension Data Pro-Am. Bekker posted a 13-under 276 total, two strokes clear of fellow Titleist Brand Ambassador Tyrone Ferreira (Pro V1x, 910D2 driver, 910F fairway metal, CB irons, Vokey Design wedges) and Pro V1x loyalist Thomas Aiken. Titleist Brand Ambassador Shaun Norris (Pro V1x, 910D3 driver, 910F fairway metal, MB irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron putter) took a share of fourth place with a score of nine-under 280.

AUSTRALASIAN TOUR: Titleist Brand Ambassador Gareth Paddison (Pro V1, 910D2 driver, 910F fairway metal, 910H hybrid, CB irons, Vokey Design wedges, Scotty Cameron putter) won the Victorian PGA Championship. Paddison’s winning score of seven-under 277 edged Leighton Lyle (Pro V1x), brother of Titleist Brand Ambassador Jarrod Lyle, by one shot. Paddison now heads to Toowoomba to defend the Queensland PGA Championship that he won in 2011. Titleist golf ball players occupied the top six positions on the leaderboard and nine of the top 10.

WORLDWIDE WINS: Six wins last week improved Titleist’s worldwide golf ball victory total in 2012 to 19, more than six times the nearest competitor with three.

While American Haas is on a high after winning the Northern Trust Open in a play-off on Sunday, Ishikawa finished a lowly equal 72nd on 296, no fewer than 19 shots worse than the winner.

In the elite 64-player field at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Dove Mountain, Haas is seeded 11th while Ishikawa is 54th.

The four Koreans in the starting line-up also face demanding opening-round contests with 53rd ranked Yang Yong-eun up against 2010 US Open champion Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland, Bae Sang-moon (42nd) taking on England’s Ian Poulter (23rd) and Kim Kyung-tae (31st) versus Dane Anders Hansen (34th).

Perhaps the Asian with the greatest chance of progressing is Choi Kyung-ju. Seeded 16th, Choi will take on 49th-ranked Kyle Stanley, already a winner on the PGA Tour this season.

Defending champion and world number one Luke Donald will face Ernie Els, who secured his spot thanks to the withdrawal of Phil Mickelson and Paul Casey.

Much attention will be focused on Tiger Woods. Seeded 19th, the 14-time Major champion’s first match is against Spaniard Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, last year’s Barclays Singapore Open winner.

Neither Mickelson, winner of last week’s Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, nor Keegan Bradley were able to match the three that Haas recorded at Riviera Country Club’s short par-four 10th hole.

The American trio completed the regulation 72 holes on seven-under-par 277. Haas posted a two-under 69 to set the clubhouse target with Mickelson and Bradley both needing to birdie 18 to draw level. To roars of approval they both managed to do so, Mickelson from 27 feet and Bradley form 13 feet. They both carded closing even-par 71s, .

In the play-off, all three players parred the par-four 18th before Haas delivered the telling blow at the 10th when his 43-foot putt for birdie disappeared below ground. It enabled the reigning FedEx Cup champion to secure the fourth PGA Tour title of his career. “I never expected to make a 40-footer, especially in that situation,” Haas said. “A little luck was involved. I guess it was meant to be. To beat guys of that calibre is amazing, something I will never forget.”

Mickelson missed several makeable putts on the back nine before coming up trumps on 18. He said: “I kept fighting and I was giving away shots and was trying to let it go and move on and see if I could capture one. And I finally got one to go on 18. It felt great.” His joy, though, was short-lived. “Bill hit a tremendous putt (in the play-off). “We’re thinking it’s a very difficult three. It’s a defensive hole. You’re just trying to make four, believe it or not.”

Spaniard Sergio Garcia enjoyed the round of the day, a seven-under 64 seeing his soar into joint fourth spot on 279.

KJ Choi was the leading Asian in tied 24th place on 284. His fellow Koreans Charlie Wi and YE Yang were two shots further back in equal
34th. Kang Sung-hoon and Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa settled for a share of 72nd place on 296.

Among those missing the cut were Korean Kim Kyung-tae (151) and the Japanese duo of Ryuji Imada (153) and Yuta Ikeda (154)