The first World Golf Championships and marquee field of the 2018-19 season kicks off this week in China.
The WGC-HSBC Champions begins on Thursday at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China, and it’s highlighted by a cast of stars, many of whom haven’t played since the Ryder Cup last month.
Reigning player of the year Brooks Koepka will make his first start as the No. 1 player in the World Ranking. He won the CJ Cup last week, his first start of the season, to vault to the top spot. Koepka, despite his three major titles, has yet to win a WGC.
Also in the field are Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose, Hideki Matsuyama, Rory McIlroy, Patrick Reed, Jon Rahm, Tommy Fleetwood, Jason Day and more.
Rose is back to defend his title, although Johnson had the 2017 tournament all but wrapped up before he unraveled on Sunday. Johnson built a six-shot lead through 54 holes but stumbled to a final-round 77. He finished 12 under and tied for 2nd with Koepka and Henrik Stenson. Rose shot 67 on the final day and won by two.
This will also be Reed’s first event since his controversial Ryder Cup comments following the Americans’ 17.5 to 10.5 loss to the Europeans in Paris.
With the time change, the tournament begins late on Wednesday evening on the East Coast and will finish around 4 a.m. each morning.
BRIEFLY
What: WGC-HSBC Champions
Where: Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, China
When: Wednesday-Sunday, Oct. 24-28
Defending champion: Justin Rose (14 under, 274)
Purse: $10 million ($1.8 million winner)
TV SCHEDULE (ET)
Wednesday: 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. (Golf Channel)
Thursday: 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. (Golf Channel)
Friday: 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. (Golf Channel)
Saturday: 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. (Golf Channel)
NOTABLE ROUND 1 TEE TIMES (ET)
9:05 p.m. — Brian Harman, Kevin Na, Branden Grace
9:15 p.m. — Charley Hoffman, Brandt Snedeker, Byeong Hun An
9:35 p.m. — Adam Scott, Hideki Matsuyama, Ian Poulter
9:45 p.m. — Patrick Reed, Jon Rahm, Alex Noren
9:55 p.m. — Brooks Koepka, Justin Rose, Tommy Fleetwood
10:05 p.m. — Patrick Cantlay, Rafa Cabrera Bello, Eddie Pepperell
10:35 p.m. — Paul Casey, Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton
10:45 p.m. — Haotong Li, Jason Day, Tony Finau
10:55 p.m. — Francesco Molinari, Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy
