Ochoa wins HSBC Champions Tournament

World No.1 Lorena Ochoa cruised to an 11-stroke win at the $US2 million ($A2.11 million) Women's Champions tournament on Sunday on her season debut.

Sweden's Annika Sorenstam finished second on nine under with American Paula Creamer in third place two shots further back.

Australia's Karrie Webb finished in a tie for fifth with American Stacy Prammanasudh on five under, 15 shots off the pace.

On a day when monsoon-like storms sent spectators sprinting for cover and left others cowering under umbrellas, Mexican Ochoa produced a solid 68 for a combined 20-under par at the Tanah Merah Country Club.

Play was suspended several times due to the torrential downpours that submerged greens, left puddles on the fairways and had players kicking their heels in the clubhouse. The final group took eight hours to complete their round.

The 26-year-old Ochoa, the only player to shoot four rounds under 70, takes home a cheque for $US300,000 ($A316,400) for the win.

Golf: Mikelson wins the HSCB Champions - extrodinary turn of events indeed!

The HSBC Champions tournament had one of the strangest endings I have ever seen. I will try and relay the madness though this blog post for those that were asleep at the time.

Lee Westwood made a late charge with a fantastic run of birdies (6) on the back nine finishing at 10 under and went to the clubhouse 2 behind the leaders at 12 under.

Mickelson self destructed on the back 9 with 5 bogies to throw away a five shot lead. Mickelson twice found the water including his second shot into the last to almost surely throw away the tournament with Fisher at 12 under. After watching Phil hit his shot into the water Fisher hit a good second himself to be greenside for two shots at the par 5. Inexplicably though his chip ran through the green and into the water eventually making a double bogey. Amazingly Mickelson had a putt to win the tournament, but missed sending the tournament to a playoff with Fisher and Westwood.

Mickelson regrouped to play a trademark flop shot at the second playoff hole and leave himself a 3 foot putt for victory. Mickelson will take home a little under $900 000 US, which is the richest prize in Asian golf.

One has to feel for Fisher who will have only himself to blame for the craziness of the last hole. Hopefully he will learn from the experience and forget about the tournament with his impending nuptials (and second place prize money.)

Golf News - HSBC Champions Day 1

Kevin Stadler and Niclas Fasth lead the HSBC Champions Tournament after day 1.

The Swede and the American each carded course record equalling eight under par rounds of 64 at Sheshan International Golf Club to distance themselves from the rest of the field, nearest challenger being Fiji’s Vijay Singh, who posted a five under par 67.

The quality of the field for the opening event of The 2008 European Tour International Schedule was illustrated by the players amongst the group who posted four under par 68s, which included Open Champion Padraig Harrington, his European Ryder Cup team-mate Paul Casey, US Open Champion Angel Cabrera and pre-tournament favourite, World Number Two Phil Mickelson.

But the opening day plaudits belonged to Fasth and Stadler, who both only dropped one shot all day in excellent efforts which propelled them to joint pole position... Read full article

Golf: HSBC Champions Tournament Preivew

Tiger is missing, but the field that has assembled for this tournament suggests that Asian golf is on the up and up. The world ranking points and the 5 million dollar prize money probably helped too.

Some of the top players that have turned out include:
Phil Mickelson
Ernie Els
Vijay Singh
Angel Cabrera
Padraig Harrington
K.J. Choi

For some reason Ernie Els pops up in my mind as my tip for the event. However Angel Cabrera has been is some kind of form this season and could take out his second event in as many weeks. Luckily for me China falls within my timezone so I will be watching closely.