Harrington, Garcia and Scott
confirmed for HSBC Champions

The newly crowned US PGA champion and repeating Open champion Padraig Harrington has confirmed he will take his place in the field for the 2008 HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club, Shanghai, from November 6-9.
The 36 year old Irishman, who has risen to No 3 on the Official World Golf Ranking after claiming back-to-back Major titles, will renew his rivalry with Sergio Garcia, after the World No 4 and winner of the 2008 US Player' Championship on the US PGA Tour also declared his intention to take his place at the HSBC Champions.
Harrington dramatically duelled with the Spaniard on the final day of the US PGA Championship earlier this month and beat Garcia in a play-off in the 2007 Open Championship at Carnoustie to claim the first Major of his career.
World No 11 Adam Scott has also added his name to the entry list. The 28 year old Australian has qualified by rights after his win in the Commercialbank Qatar Masters presented by Dolphin Energy at the beginning of the year.
The three men join defending champion and World No 2 Phil Mickelson and 2008 Masters champion Trevor Immelman, in entering the US$5 million event.
“You’ve got four of the world’s best golfers in a very high-class field,” said Harrington, who became the first European in over 100 years to successfully defend the Open Championship crown and the first in 78 years to lift the US PGA championship trophy.
“Throw in the fact that Phil is defending his first big title outside the States and Trevor is going to be there as the reigning Masters Tournament champion and you can see that it will be a tough tournament to win. I’ve had a sixth and a fifth in the last two years, so I’m getting closer.”
Three of the world’s top five players are now in the field which will, once again, boast the strongest field in Asia. Referred to as ‘Asia’s Major’ by many of the players, tournament winners from around the world are invited to compete alongside the World’s Top 50 leading players.
The HSBC Champions is the first tournament on The 2009 European Tour Schedule and is the first counting event in The Race to Dubai, the re-named European Tour Order of Merit.
Sergio Garcia, added, “Last year I really thought it was a great tournament and I really enjoyed visiting Shanghai. I love to play around the world and I am really looking forward to returning to China to play in this world-class event.”
Adam Scott said, “I am very excited to be playing the HSBC Champions for the first time this year. I made sure I could fit it in my schedule as it is one of the most talked about tournaments amongst the players on Tour. It already has a fantastic mix of players and for sure, the ‘Champion of Champions’ title is one I’d love to win.”
The HSBC Champions prize fund of US$5 million matches the largest on offer in Asia and the event is co-sanctioned by The European Tour, Asian Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia, the Sunshine (Southern Africa) Tour, and the China Golf Association.
A new qualifying criteria now allows the inclusion of past champions from the previous three years ensuring the inaugural winner, England’s David Howell, and the popular Korean winner in 2006, Y E Yang, will be assured of a place in the line-up this year.
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the ticket hotline: (+86 21) 962 388 and online at www.hsbcgolf.com