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For the women’s golf tournament sponsored by HSBC, see HSBC Women’s Champions.

The WGC-HSBC Champions was a professional golf tournament held annually in China. Inaugurated in 2005, the first seven editions were played at the Sheshan Golf Club in Shanghai, then moved to the Mission Hills Golf Club in Shenzhen for a single year in 2012.[1] It returned to the Sheshan Golf Club in 2013.

Since 2009, it was a World Golf Championship (WGC) event.[2] Played in November, it was the fourth tournament on the WGC calendar, along with the WGC-Dell Match Play, the WGC-Mexico Championship, and the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational events, all in North America.[3] The field consisted primarily of players who had won the top-rated tournaments since the previous WGC-HSBC tournament, supplemented by other leading players in the world rankings and money lists of the major tours.

The WGC-HSBC Champions had the highest prize money in East Asia. Originally in 2005, it was US$5 million,[4] and grew to $7 million when it obtained WGC status in 2009,[5] $8.5 million in 2013[6] and in 2019, the prize money was $10.25 million.[7] Only the CIMB Classic, CJ Cup, Zozo Championship, and BMW Masters have had similar purses in the region.

Field

2005–2008

Originally, the event was sanctioned by four—the European, the Asian, and Sunshine Tours and the PGA Tour of Australasia—of the six constituent tours of International Federation of PGA Tours at that time. Invitations were issued to all players placed amongst the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). Also invited were players who had, during the calendar year preceding the event, captured at least one tournament title on a sanctioning tour, or had finished the preceding season amongst the top 20 in the European Tour’s Race to Dubai (the Order of Merit standings through 2008) or amongst the top five in the Order of Merit standings of any of the other three sanctioning tours. Players who had finished first in the Order of Merit standings in any of three developmental tours—the Von Nida and Challenge Tours and the winter swing of the Sunshine Tour—were also invited. Finally, starting berths were also reserved for eight Chinese amateur and professional players to be selected by tournament organizers and sponsors, whether by qualifying tournament or not.

2009: Elevated to WGC status

The event became a World Golf Championship in 2009 on the European Tour.[8] The field consisted primarily of winners of the most important tournaments around the world since the previous WGC-HSBC Champions tournament. Each of the six member tours were allocated a certain number of tournaments from their tour (from 4 to 20), although these tournament had to meet a minimum entry requirement. Co-sanctioned tournaments were assigned to one tour only.

The tournaments were ranked using the Official World Golf Ranking strength of field (“total event ranking”). Tournaments had a minimum event ranking of 40. The ranking was based on the previous year’s event ranking so the list of qualifying events could be determined in advance. New events could be included if they were expected to have an event ranking of at least 40.

Further players gained entry through their position in the current seasons Order of Merit. Six players from China were selected, while any player ranked in the world top 50 was also given an entry. If the field size was less than 78, further entries were selected from winners of additional tournaments not already considered, players ranked outside the world top 50, and the players further down the Order of Merit lists.

2010s

From 2009 to 2012, the WGC-HSBC Champions was an unofficial money event on the PGA Tour, meaning prize money did not count toward the PGA Tour money list[8] or Fed-Ex Cup points standings.[9] Since 2010, victories counted as official wins for PGA Tour members, and as such, Phil Mickelson‘s victory in 2009 is not counted as an official win. During this time, only Ian Poulter (2012) was a PGA Tour member at the time of his win;[10] Martin Kaymer (2011) and Francesco Molinari (2010) did not join the tour until 2013[11] and 2014,[12] respectively.

2013: Became an official PGA Tour event

In 2013, the WGC-HSBC Champions became an official PGA Tour event and a member of the FedEx Cup schedule,[13] with the winner receiving a three-year exemption on the tour. In 2013, the purse for the WGC-HSBC Champions increased from $7 million to $8.5 million and full FedExCup points would be handed out, including the same 10% premium awarded by the other WGC tournaments.[1]

The tournament was the second event of the European Tour Final Series from 2013[14] to 2015.[15]

For the 2018-2019 season, the PGA Tour finished its Asian swing with the first World Golf Championship of that season, the WGC-HSBC Champions, held at Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China. A field of 78 of the world’s best players competed for the $10 million purse, $1.6 million of which went to the winner.[16]

2020s cancellations

In September 2020, the WGC-HSBC Champions were cancelled because of government restrictions on international sporting events due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Champions were originally scheduled to take place at the Sheshan Golf Club from October 29 through November 1 of that year.[17]

The WGC-HSBC Champions were cancelled again in 2021 and 2022 due to the pandemic.[18]

Qualifications

The qualification categories were as follows:[19]

  1. Winners of the four major championships and The Players Championship
  2. Winners of the four World Golf Championships
  3. Top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking as of two weeks prior the start of the event
  4. Top 30 available players from the final FedEx Cup Points List (if less than 5 players are available, players from position 31 or lower will be selected to fill in)
  5. Top 30 available players from the Race to Dubai Ranking as of one week prior the start of the event
  6. Top 4 available players from the Asian Tour ad hoc qualifying ranking
  7. Top 2 available players from the Japan Golf Tour Order of Merit as of one week prior the start of the event
  8. Top 2 available players from the final PGA Tour of Australasia Order of Merit
  9. Top 2 available players from the final Sunshine Tour Order of Merit
  10. Six players from China
  11. Alternates

Winners

World Golf Championship 2009–2012, 2016–2019
World Golf Championship and European Tour (Race to Dubai finals series) 2013–2015
European Tour (Regular) 2005–2008
# Year Tour(s)[a] Winner Score To par Margin of
victory		 Runner(s)-up Purse
(US$)		 Winner’s
share ($)		 Venue Ref.
WGC-HSBC Champions
– 2022 EUR, PGAT Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic [20]
– 2021 EUR, PGAT [21]
– 2020 EUR, PGAT [22]
15th 2019 EUR, PGAT Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy 269 −19 Playoff United States Xander Schauffele 10,250,000 1,745,000 Sheshan
14th 2018 EUR, PGAT United States Xander Schauffele 274 −14 Playoff United States Tony Finau 10,000,000 1,700,000 Sheshan
13th 2017 EUR, PGAT England Justin Rose 274 −14 2 strokes United States Dustin Johnson
United States Brooks Koepka
Sweden Henrik Stenson		 9,750,000 1,660,000 Sheshan
12th 2016 EUR, PGAT Japan Hideki Matsuyama 265 −23 7 strokes United States Daniel Berger
Sweden Henrik Stenson		 9,500,000 1,620,000 Sheshan
11th 2015 EUR, PGAT Scotland Russell Knox 268 −20 2 strokes United States Kevin Kisner 8,500,000 1,400,000 Sheshan
10th 2014 EUR, PGAT United States Bubba Watson 277 −11 Playoff South Africa Tim Clark 8,500,000 1,400,000 Sheshan
9th 2013 EUR, PGAT United States Dustin Johnson 264 −24 3 strokes England Ian Poulter 8,500,000 1,400,000 Sheshan [23]
8th 2012 EUR, PGAT[b] England Ian Poulter 267 −21 2 strokes United States Jason Dufner
South Africa Ernie Els
United States Phil Mickelson
United States Scott Piercy		 7,000,000 1,200,000 Mission Hills [24]
7th 2011 EUR, PGAT[b] Germany Martin Kaymer 268 −20 3 strokes Sweden Freddie Jacobson 7,000,000 1,200,000 Sheshan [25]
6th 2010 EUR, PGAT[b] Italy Francesco Molinari 269 −19 1 stroke England Lee Westwood 7,000,000 1,200,000 Sheshan [26]
5th 2009 EUR, PGAT[c] United States Phil Mickelson (2) 271 −17 1 stroke South Africa Ernie Els 7,000,000 1,200,000 Sheshan [27]
HSBC Champions
4th 2008 AFR,[d] ANZ,[d] ASA,[d] EUR Spain Sergio García 274 −14 Playoff England Oliver Wilson 5,000,000 833,300 Sheshan [28]
3rd 2007 AFR,[d] ANZ,[d] ASA,[d] EUR United States Phil Mickelson 278 −10 Playoff England Ross Fisher
England Lee Westwood		 5,000,000 833,300 Sheshan [29]
2nd 2006 AFR,[d] ANZ,[d] ASA,[d] EUR South Korea Yang Yong-eun 274 −14 2 strokes United States Tiger Woods 5,000,000 833,300 Sheshan [30]
1st 2005 AFR,[d] ANZ,[d] ASA,[d] EUR England David Howell 268 −20 3 strokes United States Tiger Woods 5,000,000 833,300 Sheshan [31]

Notes

  1. ^ AFR − Sunshine Tour; ANZ − PGA Tour of Australasia; ASA − Asian Tour; EUR − European Tour; PGAT − PGA Tour.
  2. ^ a b c Between 2010–2012, wins were only counted as official PGA Tour wins if the winner was a member of the tour. Ian Poulter fulfilled this criterion, whereas Martin Kaymer and Francesco Molinari did not.
  3. ^ The 2009 event was an unofficial PGA Tour event, therefore Mickelson’s win is only considered official on the European Tour.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Between 2005–2008 the event was sanctioned by the Asian Tour, Sunshine Tour and PGA Tour of Australasia, however it was an unofficial money event; therefore the win is considered unofficial on those tours.

References

  1. ^ a b “HSBC Champions added as official PGA Tour event”. wkyc.com. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
  2. ^ Ferguson, Doug (28 April 2009). “China gets World Golf Championship with asterisk”. Golf Channel. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  3. ^ “Asian event joins elite WGC list”. BBC Sport. 28 April 2009. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
  4. ^ Yue, Ma (25 August 2009). “HSBC Champions hikes purse”. archive.shine.cn. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  5. ^ By; Press, Associated; By; Press, Associated (27 April 2009). “HSBC tournament in China to become WGC event”. NBC Sports. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  6. ^ “HSBC Champions back to Shanghai, $8.5 mln purse”. Yahoo News. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  7. ^ Woodard, Adam. “World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions: Round 2 tee times, how to watch”. Golfweek. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  8. ^ a b “World Golf Championships Expands To Include HSBC Champions”. Golf Digest. Archived from the original on 20 January 2026. Retrieved 14 April 2026.
  9. ^ Gray, Will (4 November 2012). “HSBC Champions to become official PGA Tour event in 2013”. Golf Channel. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  10. ^ Kozuchowski, Zak (4 November 2012). “Ian Poulter WITB 2012”. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  11. ^ “Martin Kaymer to play on PGA Tour”. ESPN.com. 20 November 2012. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  12. ^ Schupak, Adam. “Francesco Molinari (finally) to return in Las Vegas after 7-month layoff”. Golfweek. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  13. ^ Gray, Will (4 November 2012). “HSBC Champions to become official PGA Tour event in 2013”. Golf Channel. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  14. ^ Harig, Bob (26 November 2012). “European Tour adds final series”. ESPN.com. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  15. ^ “Everything you need to know about the European Tour’s Final Series”. Sky Sports. 12 November 2015. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  16. ^ Powers, Christopher (23 October 2018). “2018 WGC-HSBC Champions tee times, viewer’s guide”. Golf Digest. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  17. ^ “WGC-HSBC Champions cancelled because of coronavirus restrictions”. Reuters. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  18. ^ Schlabach, Mark (6 July 2022). “WGC-HSBC Champions canceled due to COVID-19 restrictions in China”. ESPN.com. Retrieved 18 April 2026.
  19. ^ “World Golf Championships – HSBC Champions: Qualifying Criteria 2019”. HSBC Golf. Retrieved 14 October 2019.
  20. ^ Hibbitt, James (6 July 2022). “World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions Cancelled For 2022”. Golf Monthly. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  21. ^ Harig, Bob (31 August 2021). “PGA may ban fans for ‘Brooksy’ taunts in wake of Bryson Dechambeau-Brooks Koepka drama”. ESPN.
  22. ^ “HSBC Champions in Shanghai officially canceled amid pandemic”. ESPN. Associated Press. 1 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
  23. ^ “WGC-HSBC Champions: Dustin Johnson claims Shanghai win”. BBC Sport. 3 November 2013. Retrieved 3 November 2013.
  24. ^ “Ian Poulter wins WGC Champions after Lee Westwood fades”. BBC Sport. 4 November 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
  25. ^ “Germany’s Martin Kaymer win WGC Champions title in Shanghai”. BBC Sport. 6 November 2011. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  26. ^ “Francesco Molinari claims HSBC crown”. ESPN. Associated Press. 7 November 2010.
  27. ^ Ferguson, Doug (9 November 2009). “Mickelson’s heroics net wild 1-shot win”. The Boston Globe. Associated Press. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  28. ^ “Garcia beats Wilson in Shanghai”. BBC Sport. 10 November 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  29. ^ “Mickelson wins HSBC Champions tournament”. The New York Times. 11 November 2007. Retrieved 28 February 2011.
  30. ^ “Yang beats major champions and claims biggest career win”. Asian Golf Today. 12 November 2006. Archived from the original on 20 August 2014. Retrieved 22 May 2013.
  31. ^ “Howell holds off Woods for title”. BBC Sport. 13 November 2005. Retrieved 28 February 2011.

31°06′32″N 121°12′58″E / 31.109°N 121.216°E / 31.109; 121.216