Stellar field set for BMW Masters
Print Edition
DESPITE the absence of world No. 1 Rory McIlroy, three of the world’s top five golfers will be in Shanghai this week for the 2014 BMW Masters, setting their sights on the US$1.166 million championship check.
The US$7 million event, featuring a 78-man field and which tees off tomorrow, kick-starts the European Tour’s “Final Series” — four prestigious events culminating in the season finale in Dubai.
The field includes star names like Justin Rose, Ian Poulter, Graeme McDowell, Victor Dubuisson, Thomas Bjorn, Paul McGinley, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Ernie Els.
One name missing is Henrik Stenson, who withdrew yesterday after the birth of his third child. The Swede last year won both the USPGA Tour’s Fedex Cup and the European Tour’s Race to Dubai standings.
Stenson’s wife Emma gave birth to baby Alice in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday and the Swede, who is third in the Race to Dubai standings, has decided to remain in the States.
Fourteen Chinese golfers will, however, feature at the event, with Liang Wenchong, China’s top-ranked player sitting 189th in the World Golf Ranking, leading the pack.
Other local hopes include Wu Ashun, a two-time Japan Golf Tour winner and the No. Chinese golfer (ranked 238), who is seeking a personal breakthrough, and Li Haotong.
China No. 3, Li, ranked 343 in the world, is a contract golfer at the Lake Malaren Golf Club. “I’m very familiar with this course as I spend a lot of time practicing here. It’s my third attendance at the event, another great chance to collect experience in top-tier tournaments.”
The 18-year-old won the China Masters, becoming the youngest champion in the history of the One Asia Tour.
McIlroy announced earlier this month that he would skip both golf events in Shanghai — the BMW Masters and the following WGC-HSBC Champions — due to his involvement in an acrimonious dispute with Dublin-based Horizon Sports Management. The Northern Irishman said he needed time to prepare for the trial over his legal dispute, which is expected to begin in February.
Stenson, meanwhile, is now expected to travel to Shanghai for next week’s WGC-HSBC Champions, AFP reported.
With world No. 4 Sergio Garcia already opting to play only at next week’s event it means the top three in the “Race to Dubai” standings are missing from the BMW Masters.
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