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Defending champion Hideki Matsuyama and 2013 champion Dustin Johnson have confirmed their participation in the 2017 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions taking place 26 to 29 October at Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai. Since Matsuyama’s triumph at ‘Asia’s Major’ last October when he became the first Japanese player to win a World Golf Championship, he has gone from strength to strength, winning four times, including the PGA TOUR’s Waste Management Phoenix Open and, earlier this month, the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. He reached a career high ranking of number two in June and is currently lying in third place on the Official World Golf Rankings. Matsuyama won last year by a cool seven shots from Henrik Stenson and Daniel Berger. His rounds of 66, 65, 68 and 66 took in as many as 29 birdies, and he is relishing a return to Sheshan. Matsuyama said: “Sheshan has some very special memories for me. It was a great honor to become the first Japanese winner of a World Golf Championships and to do it against such a world-class field was very special. I believe the confidence I gained with such a big victory there has really helped me with my performances this year.â€� At the top of the world rankings, Johnson became the only man to have completed the WGC-Slam when he won both the WGC-Mexico Championship and the WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play earlier this year.   Johnson, who suffered a back injury following a fall on the eve of this year’s Masters, returned to the winning circle last week at the PGA TOUR’s NORTHERN TRUST. He commented: “It is great that Hideki and I hold all the 2017 WGC titles between us, so we will both be gunning to win the final WGC of the year. I really look forward to returning to Shanghai and it always helps to be returning to a course where you have won before. The Chinese fans are awesome and bring a real energy and enthusiasm that always makes it really fun to play there.â€� Giles Morgan, HSBC Global Head of Sponsorship and Events, added: “WGC-HSBC Champions is our flagship event in global golf and an early announcement of two of the world’s best players is hugely exciting. Quality of field is the calling card for this tournament which has earned the reputation of ‘Asia’s Major’ and for the past three years we have attracted forty of the world’s top fifty golfers. Following recent heroics China’s leading players are truly coming of age at just the right time. This event means so much to them. It is their major. It first inspired them into the game then nurtured their skills. Now it gives this new generation a chance to unleash their talents against the world’s best. All in front their home fans. It’s a mouth-watering prospect.â€�  Ticket sales launch on www.HSBCgolf.com/buy-tickets-online. From daily passes to weekend family packages, and complimentary entry to juniors 18 and under, there is something for everyone. The popular Pinnacle Club will also return this year, a premium spectator experience for fans looking for an extra special way to enjoy world-class golf. Pinnacle Club guests will be able to enjoy the golf from a high-spec bespoke social and party platform on the golf course, offering excellent views of the action as well as top class hospitality and a unique atmosphere. For more details on the WGC-HSBC Champions and all ticket information, please visit www.HSBCgolf.com/mens or follow official WeChat account: HSBCChampions
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KUALA LUMPUR – Advance tickets for the 2017 CIMB Classic, which will be headlined by two-time defending champion and World No. 4 Justin Thomas and a host of PGA TOUR stars, are now on sale on here, Ticket Pro sales channels and selected MST Golf Stores in the Klang Valley. The $7 million (US) showpiece, which is the only PGA TOUR tournament held in Southeast Asia, will be staged at TPC Kuala Lumpur from October 12 to 15 with Thomas, who has already won five times this season including a first Major title, returning for a hat-trick bid. Fans who purchase tickets from now until October 8 will enjoy early bird pricing, with tickets costing RM62 each for the first round (Oct 12, Thursday) and second round (Oct 13, Friday). Prices for the third round (Oct 14, Saturday) and final round (Oct 15, Sunday) are RM99 per day. A season ticket for all four rounds are priced at RM199. From October 9 to 15, ticket prices will be RM78 per day for the first round and second round, RM115 each for the third round and final round and RM215 for a season ticket. Outlets which are selling the tickets are located at MST Golf-TPC Kuala Lumpur, MST Golf Superstore-UOA, MST Golf Superstore-Subang Jaya and MST Golf Superstore-Intermark. CIMB cardholders and CIMB premier cardholders will enjoy 15% and 25% discounts respectively while MST I Love Golf Members and Malaysia Airlines Enrich Members will enjoy 10% discounts through a promo code or by showing the Enrich card at ticketing counters. In addition, each CIMB card member will be entitled to receive one complimentary pass on Thursday and Friday at the spectator entrance at TPC Kuala Lumpur. They need to present their CIMB card at the ticketing counter. To promote the game amongst the youngsters, admission will be free for up to two persons below the age of 18 years old who are accompanied by one ticketed adult. BMW car owners will be entitled to two season passes each by showing your BMW key at the ticket counter at the spectator entrance. Other top names who have confirmed their participation at the CIMB Classic, which celebrates its eighth edition this year, include World No. 18 Rafa Cabrera Bello, the 31st ranked Thomas Pieters and Major champions Ernie Els and Davis Love III. The final list of PGA TOUR players will be confirmed on September 20. The CIMB Classic is also sanctioned by the Asian Tour, which will see its top-10 players from the Order of Merit as of October 9 qualifying for the tournament. A minimum of two Malaysians will also be in the elite 78-man field.
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The first round of the Evian Championship, the LPGA’s fifth major, began Thursday morning outside of Paris, France. The first group out made it through eight holes before play was suspended because of inclement weather. After a near four-and-a-half-hour delay, officials decided to call play for the day. They also decided to reset scores – since no one had finished nine holes – and reduce the event to 54 holes. Charlie Rymer and Robert Damron, on “Morning Drive,� both adamently believed this was a “very bad call� and that the erasing of scores and reduction of holes was a terrible move for an event labeled a major. Check out more of their thoughts on the video above.
Day 1 play at the Evian Championship was scrapped on Thursday after officials decided not to resume the first round following a weather delay of nearly four-and-a-half hours. The opening round in Evian-les-Baines, France was halted with no players having completed nine holes. Because of that, rules allow for all scores to be wiped out and play to begin anew on Friday, which is what will happen. The event, the fifth major on the LPGA tour this year, has been reduced to 54 holes. Jessica Korda (through eight holes) and world No. 1 So Yeon Ryu (through five holes) shared the lead, at 2 under, when play was initially suspended. On the opposite end, U.S. Women’s Open winner Sung-Hyun Park was 6 over
