WGC-HSBC Champions Power Rankings: Ten to watch in China

After successfully tipping recent winners in Hong Kong and Turkey, Ben Coley casts his eye over the field for this week's WGC-HSBC Champions and picks out another 10 players set for a strong week.

Rory McIlroy

There's only one man who can headline the column this week, and that's despite the presence of Jordan Spieth (more on him later) here in China.

McIlroy finished tied for sixth in Turkey despite being clearly short of his absolute best and while supporters are left to hope that he can step up a level, the world No 3 should be trusted to do just that. Remember, McIlroy has Race To Dubai glory to chase and the fact that he looks frustrated as we near the end of a year which promised much but met interference can only be a good thing.

As Wayne Riley commented last week, McIlroy has a determined look in his eye. Nobody in this field has a more solid-looking bank of form at Sheshan International, where Rory has been no worse than sixth in four visits, and his ball-striking will serve him well on what proved to be a demanding layout last season.

Concerns around McIlroy's putting will be enough to lead some elsewhere but he knows these greens better than the tricky, deceptive surfaces in Antalya and if he putts to an average level, he'll be bang there on Sunday. I expect him to win.

Jordan Spieth

One place above McIlroy in the Official World Golf Rankings lies Spieth, whose last tournament start saw him romp to victory in the TOUR Championship.

Spieth is a sensational player, better now than the one who has played this event twice without contending, and if he's absolutely at his peak following a break, then he'll of course go very well. He has played once since East Lake, when very much up and down in the Presidents Cup, but another break has since followed and he's tweaked a few things in his bag, too. 

Just a slight drop in motivation could be the difference and given that McIlroy's course form is superior and he's had a tune-up in Turkey, he has to get the vote, despite the brilliance of his biggest danger.

As a final note, Spieth's par-five scoring is statistically below the level of his par-three and par-four scoring which could be another key factor given the nature of this golf course.

Adam Scott

Although my one and only bet this week will be McIlroy, if asked to nominate an alternative option at the prices I would go with Scott. The Australian appeared to rediscover some form at the Presidents Cup where he struck the ball sensationally, and another slight tweak in grip saw him start to make some putts against Rickie Fowler in a Sunday singles match he won 7&6.

That's the sort of performance which should have this quiet character brimming full of confidence and it's no surprise he marked his return to the PGA Tour with a fine second in the CIMB Classic last week.

This likely tougher challenge will definitely suit a player whose strengths lie from tee to green and, just like McIlroy, if he does hole at least his share of mid-range putts, he'll be hard to keep out of the top 10.

Scott was sixth here in 2008 and generally plays the course nicely, while he's also got plenty of experience elsewhere in Asia. 

Dustin Johnson

Two years ago, DJ produced a really strong finish to see off tenacious duo Ian Poulter and Graeme McDowell to land this tournament, confirmation that away from the majors he's a ruthless winner.

Having been unable to defend due to his break from golf, Johnson will be determined to win back the trophy and there's plenty in the form book to suggest he could do so. While he's only won once this year, it was a World Golf Championship event at a monstrously long golf course and therefore shares similarities with the challenge at hand.

Johnson signed off the 2015 PGA Tour season in superb form and while he missed the cut in Hong Kong last time, Fanling is a golf course which doesn't really suit his aggressive brand of golf.

Besides which, that win I mentioned earlier this year came on the back of a missed cut at the Honda Classic and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him bounce back at this ideal venue.

Bubba Watson

While Rickie Fowler, Justin Rose, Henrik Stenson and one or two others are considered key threats to the McIlroy-Day-Spieth axis, it's Bubba who currently sits fourth in the rankings and has more majors than that trio put together.

The left-hander might look wild and he's certainly unique, but he's actually become a phenomenally consistent golfer over the last few years. His only missed cuts in the last two years have come in majors and he's been in the top five no fewer than four times since winning the Travelers Championship in the height of summer. 

Bubba built his victory here last year on the par-fives, across which he was 14-under (+3 for the other holes) and remains as strong as ever in that department, which he showed when just behind Johnson at Doral.

The concerns would be that he's defending champion and with that come extra responsibilities, while he's another who hasn't played since the Presidents Cup, but another big week for Watson would surprise no-one.

Rickie Fowler

Fowler was strong throughout the bag when narrowly missing out on this title last year, and having won three times since, this looks a good opportunity for another big title.

Although some expected it all to happen earlier, Fowler is still shy of his 27th birthday and has now completed the graduation to fully-fledged world-class operator, just one who hasn't as yet won a WGC or major title. Surely one will arrive sooner or later and Fowler, whose first professional win actually came in Korea, is more comfortable than most in the Far East.

Much will depend on whether he's rediscovered confidence in his long game, but it doesn't usually take him long to find it and we know he likes this track.

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Henrik Stenson

It's at this time of year that Stenson usually thrives and any positive signs in China will encourage supporters that he can win the DP World Tour Championship for the third year in succession in a fortnight or so.

But first of all, the Swede will want to land this title and on the strength of his run of form in the FedEx Cup Playoffs, he has every chance to do so. Stenson's form at the course doesn't amount to much at first glance, but he's shot 64 before and has closed with 65s in each of his last two visits and this is a layout which should suit his game.

Stenson continues to sit towards the top of the total driving statistics and eats up par-fives. so if he's back in the very best of form, he'll go well. 

Kevin Na

I must make it clear I wouldn't dream of backing Na in this sort of company at no bigger than 40/1. He has one win in over 300 starts at the top level and as a run of 2-2-3 this season shows, he finds it hard to get over the line.

I backed him at a bigger price in a much lower standard of event just a few weeks ago and from a purely betting perspective, he offers no value here.

On the other hand, if you want a run for your money or a player to rely on for fantasy golf purposes, Na may well be your man. Nobody in the field has a more consistent run of form figures to their name and Na was 20th here last year despite a disastrous third round.

He's hitting more greens than ever before, his short game remains razor sharp and there's no reason to expect anything other than a solid week, with 5/6 on a top-20 finish a gift.

Paul Casey

Casey warmed up for this with a solid effort in the CIMB Classic, where he carded four sub-70 rounds for 24th place. He's played well on every visit to Sheshan, including when forced to withdraw after three rounds in 2009, and had every chance to win the event two years earlier before slumping to a final-round 78.

His long game remains in brilliant shape and the one thing missing from an otherwise fruitful season has been a victory. It's quite possible he puts that right on Sunday.

Ian Poulter

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Regular readers won't be surprised that I find space for Poulter in my top 10. The Englishman has been a constant in this feature over the last couple of events and to some extent has justified his inclusion with solid patches of play in Hong Kong and Turkey.

Here in China, Poulter can call upon some solid course form even if his victory in the event came at Mission Hills and, as noted several times before, he comes alive at this time of year.

Poulter made plenty of birdies last week and if he can limit the mistakes, will step up another level.

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