29th Oct 2019 | WGC HSBC Champions
HSBC Champions: Rory McIlroy
Recovered from a poor opening round to finish third last week and keeps producing excellent results. Benign conditions play to his strengths and course record is 4-5-4-6-11-4-54.
My shortlist for the HSBC Champions came down to the very obvious pair of Rory McIlroy and Hideki Matsuyama and although anything can happen in golf the case to back the pair is compelling. I’ve had to come down on one side and i’ve gone with McIlroy.
The PGA Tour’s player of the year might not have won a major but everything else he’s done has been brilliant. Last week he recovered from a slow start to finish third and with calm conditions forecast in Shanghai all week he should add to an already excellent course record.
McIlroy’s record at Sheshan Golf Club is 4-5-4-6-11-4-54 with last year’s misstep understandable as it was his first start after the Ryder Cup. The 30-year-old’s putting is much more reliable, 24th in strokes gained last season and that gives me confidence he can go low and win for the fourth time in 2019.
Betfair are paying 7 places at 1/5 odds.
Odds correct at time of publishing: 07:12 29th Oct, 2019 but subject to change