HSBC upset with Woods, McIlroy no-shows

SHENZHEN, China - The Associated Press

Rory McIlroy tees off from the first hole at the Duel at Jinsha Lake, a one-day golf challenge in Zhengzhou. AFP photo

The HSBC Champions is missing some star power this week after Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods decided to skip the World Golf Championship event - much to the disappointment of the tournament backers.

For the other top golfers in the field, however, the absence of McIlroy, in particular, represents a chance to make up ground in the European Tour money list.

Giles Morgan, global head of sponsorship and events for HSBC, said he was “disappointed” that No. 1-ranked McIlroy and Woods, a 14-time major winner, are skipping the HSBC Champions after playing elsewhere in Asia.

“To have a World Golf Championship in Asia is really important for the sport, to balance the sport out, and to grow,” Morgan said. “And because it’s a World Golf Championship event, it requires the best players to be here.”

McIlroy and Woods chose to play in a lucrative, head-to-head exhibition event in the Chinese city of Zhengzhou on Oct. 29, a day after competing in tournaments in Shanghai and Malaysia.

“I think the feeling is, and it seems to be among media and a lot of other people with the stakeholders, not just us as the sponsors well, if they’re in China and there’s a World Golf Championship, this would be a good event to be at because it’s a WGC, but a WGC in Asia, which helps elevate the game,” said Morgan, adding that both golfers had apologized to him privately for missing the event.

‘Wonderful event’
Ernie Els also said lamented the fact the game’s two biggest names weren’t there.

“You know, you can’t play every week. You can’t play everywhere,” the reigning British Open champion said. “I don’t know why they are skipping because it’s a wonderful event. It’s unfortunate they are not here.”

But other players sensed a good opportunity.

McIlroy is trying to emulate Luke Donald’s feat from last year by topping the money lists on the PGA Tour and European Tour in the same season.

The Northern Irishman, who captured his second career major at the PGA Championship in August, has already secured the PGA Tour money title with just over $8 million, but his lead on the European money list shrank to just over $1 million after Sweden’s Peter Hanson captured the BMW Masters in Shanghai last weekend.

Hanson can pass McIlroy by taking home the $1.2 million first prize at the HSBC Champions. Third-place Justin Rose also has a chance to pass McIlroy.