Rd. 2: WGC-HSBC Champions

text size

Nov. 5, 2009
By PGATOUR.com Staff

The first groups are ready to tee off in Round 2 of the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai, China, 13 hours ahead of New York time. Here's how it sets up (click here for tee times):
MORE HSBC CHAMPIONS: Expert picks | Power Rankings | Approach Shots | Inside the Field
FEATURES: From A to Z | Asia's march to golf prominence | Tiger: HSBC's growth 'remarkable'

Groups We're Watching

Tee time	Players
8:50 p.m. ET, Thursday, Hole No. 1		Retief Goosen, Anthony Kim, Ryo Ishikawa Though he hasn't gotten much sleep lately, Kim is tied for fifth after Thursday's 67. How will he fare in Round 2?

9:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, Hole No. 1		Martin Kaymer, Ian Poulter, Nick Watney This group, which includes first-round leader Watney, shot a combined 14-under in the opening round.
9:50 p.m. ET, Thursday, Hole No. 1		Thongchai Jaidee, Tiger Woods, Ross Fisher Woods sits just three strokes back after one round, while Jaidee is tied for 28th and Fisher is tied for 21st.

EXPERT PREVIEW: PGA TOUR Chief of Correspondents Helen Ross previews Friday's round.

Nick Watney was a little embarrassed that he went into Shanghai to eat -- of all things -- Texas barbeque.

But Watney certainly had nothing to be ashamed of on the golf course after tying the course record with a 64 to seize the lead in the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions.

The soft-spoken Californian is two strokes ahead of Shane Lowry, Ryan Moore and Martin Kaymer in the $7 million event at Sheshan International Golf Club. Watney, who won the Buick Invitational earlier this year, nearly picked up a World Golf Championships title, too, when he finished second to Phil Mickelson at the CA Championship.

Friday's forecast

Sunny
Temp: 78 high/66 low
Sunshine and a few afternoon clouds.

Moore is looking to build on his breakthrough season that included a win at the Wyndham Championship. Kaymer is making a spirited bid to regain the top spot in the European Tour's Race to Dubai that he relinquished during a layoff after a go-kart accident.

World No. 1 Tiger Woods is three strokes off the pace after an erratic day where his swing was uncooperative and fans exacerbated the problem with ill-timed camera clicks. He did his best to make playing partners Ross Fisher, who won last week's Volvo World Match Play Championship, and Thongchai Jaidee comfortable in the crush, though -- even speaking to Jaidee in his native Thai.

Mickelson, who won the HSBC Champions in 2007, shot 69 and is five strokes off the pace while 2006 champ Y.E. Yang is at even par. But defending champion Sergio Garcia has got to be disappointed with his start -- a 3-over 75 that left him tied for 69th.

Stat of the Day

While this week's HSBC Champions event is considered "unofficial" on the PGA TOUR, Tiger Woods (T5) has 16 wins and 27 top-10 finishes in 30 World Golf Championships starts. He has at least one victory per season in a World Golf Championships event since the series' inception in 1999.

The Film Room

	Shot of the Day Nick Watney holes a 30-foot putt for birdie at the par-3 4th en route to an opening round 8-under 64 at the 2009 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions. Watch it
	PGA TOUR Today: Nov. 5, 2009 Win McMurry recaps the first round, where 28-year-old American Nick Watney tied the course record with an 8-under 64. Tiger Woods lurks three strokes back. Watch it
	In the Bag: Sergio Garcia Spain's Sergio Garcia, winner of the 2008 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions, gives us an inside look at what he carries in his bag. Watch it