The Asian Swing ends with the first World Golf Championships event of the 2018-19 PGA TOUR season. It’s a stellar field – 20 of last year’s final 30 in the FedExCup standings are in China, including FedExCup champ (and defending HSBC champ) Justin Rose. Also, 35 of the world’s top 50, including Player of the Year and new No. 1 Brooks Koepka. Call it the Shootout in Shanghai. THE FLYOVER The shortest par-4 on the PGA TOUR last season is the drivable 288-yard 16th at Sheshan International. In fact, just four of the 551 par-4s played on TOUR were less than 300 yards — and yet the shortest hole wasn’t the easiest. The 3.716 stroke average on the 16th last season ranked it as the 14th easiest par-4 on TOUR. LANDING ZONE Based on recent history, it’s likely the 603-yard eighth will be the toughest par-5 on the TOUR this season. In two of the past five seasons, it has ranked as the toughest par 5. A year ago, it ranked second among the 163 par-5s played on TOUR, playing to a stroke average of 5.113. Only the 14th at Pebble Beach was a harder par-5, and just seven par-5s on TOUR played to an over-par score. The eighth generally is not reachable in two, with water potentially impacting tee shots and second shots into a shallow green. WEATHER CHECK From meteorologist Guy Nestor: “Good weather conditions continue into Wednesday and most of Thursday before another frontal system moves through the area. Rain will be likely Friday morning then high pressure follows with great weather setting up for the weekend.â€� For the latest weather news from Shanghai, China, check out PGATOUR.COM’s Weather Hub. SOUND CHECK I’ve only been world No. 1 for three days. I haven’t found too many challenges in those three days.Love. Hair. And humor. But love first. I’m in a much better place this year than I was this time last year. BY THE NUMBERS 550 – FedExCup points available for this week, 50 more than a regular PGA TOUR stop. 7 – Chinese golfers in the field, including Hao Tong Li. The 23-year-old from Hunan is ranked 54th in the world. 150 – Number of career PGA TOUR starts Rory McIlroy has made, including this week. He’ll be seeking his 15th TOUR win. SCATTERSHOTS A year ago, Justin Rose was playing the pro-am round at Sheshan when he turned to his manager and declared that it was time to put together a run and play “some great golf here.â€� Recalled Rose: “I felt very hungry and motivated to just try and find another level.â€� Rose won the HSBC, the first of four wins in a 15-start stretch that would eventually lead to the FedExCup and a brief stint at world No. 1. “This tournament absolutely did kick-start some great golf for me that’s lasted the best part of the year,â€� he said. Dustin Johnson is making his only appearance in the fall. After this week, he will not play again until the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii the first week of January. And he won’t start practicing again until early December. “That’s when I get excited and fired up and get ready to get back to work,â€� he said. Taiwan’s C.T. Pan has played Sheshan International, but it wasn’t in competition. After missing the cut at the 2007 Volvo China Open at nearby Shanghai Silport, he had a free Saturday, so he made the 15-minute drive to play Sheshan International, which had opened three years earlier. It took him 11 years, but he’s finally back. “I remember it vividly. I told myself, I wish I could be here any time soon, and today I’m here and that means a lot to me,â€� Pan said.
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