Mickelson is going to face a tough battle to retain his crown, none more so than from the large European contingent. Most of the defeated European Ryder Cup team have made their way to Shanghai, including Harrington the winner of two Majors in 2008.

The three players compare Chinese Calligraphy skills and share a laugh at each others espense.

"This is truly a global event and if anyone beats Phil to the title they will have deserved the win. There are so many world-class players in the field that almost anyone could do it, and they will get extra recognition because the trophy has Phil's name on it already." said the Irishman.

The queue of players capable of winning is long, with the field comprised of entrants from the top 50 ranked players in the world together with winners from the European and Asian Tours as well as the top ranked golfers from South Africa's Sunshine Tour, the PGA Tour of Australasia and from China.

"This tournament is one of the great crossroads in world golf," said Immelman. "It's one of the few occasions when East meets West and North meets South. It's a crossroads in the calendars too – the start of the season for Europe - and at the same time it's a celebration of everyone's success. This year is even more interesting because alongside the established stars you've also got players like Anthony Kim and Camilo Villegas, and myself after my win at Augusta, who have taken their careers to a new level."

For the world's local bank the quality of the 2008 HSBC Champions tournament is another cause for celebration following the success of the inaugural HSBC Women's Champions earlier this year; an event that was won in spectacular style by Lorena Ochoa and which leading LPGA officials described as instantly worthy of being ranked among their top five most important tournaments.

"The HSBC Champions "brand" keeps climbing to a new level," declared Giles Morgan, HSBC Group Head of Sponsorship. "There were seasoned golf watchers who regarded our 2007 event as having the strongest field ever assembled in Asia. The 2008 Women's Champions was talked about as being the first truly world-class golf tournament ever staged in Asia and now the 2008 HSBC Champions has arguably gone a step further. We've got two great reigning champions in Phil Mickelson and Lorena Ochoa and I'm sure we're going to crown another great champion this week too."

The top three draws at the HSBC Champions - Immelman, Mickelson, and Harrington.

Robbie Henchman Senior Vice President, Director of Golf Asia Pacific, IMG added:

"The HSBC Champions and Women's Champions tournaments are the benchmark for golf in Asia. They're spearheading the shift of genuine world-class tournament golf to Asia and they're setting the standard for every other tournament in Asia to try and match. The HSBC Champions has become a must-see event for Asian golf fans and, outside the Majors, it's one of the key events in the players' thinking too!"

The HSBC Champions is also the only tournament where winners from around the world are rewarded with an invitation to compete against the world's leading players, with a prize fund of US$5 million.

HSBC Champions will be played at the Sheshan International Golf Club. 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.

(China.org.cn November 5, 2008)