Players to Watch; WGC-HSBC Champions

For the second week in a row the PGA Tour is holding a no cut, FedEx Cup points event in Asia, as it prepares to tee off at the World Golf Championship HSBC Champions at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China.

Coming off of a one year absence, Sheshan International is back on the roster for this event, on it's par-72, 7,266 yard course.

Martin Kaymer is the defending champion (2011) when this event was held at this venue. Posting a tournament record 20-under par. Equaled only by David Howell in 2005. The 2012 champion, Ian Poulter won by two strokes at Mission Hills.

In 2009 the course favored the long ball players as the course was over-seeded with Rye grass. Four years later, the course has matured and provides an all-around test for the golfers this week.

Let's take a look at a few players to watch this week in China.

Martin Kaymer
Very tough to not look at the 2011 champion at Sheshan first for this year. The former No. 1 ranked player in the world also had a T6 finish here in 2009. Coming of 15 consecutive cuts made in his last 15 events, including three straight top-15 finishes.

Jason Dufner
'Duf-Daddy' has racked up five top-10's in his last nine starts, which include his victory at the PGA Championship. Along with T4 finishes at both Merion and Firestone.

Keegan Bradley
Although Bradley had a rough Sunday last week in Malaysia, he has finished in the top-25 in all seven starts in stroke-play WGC events. Finished T16 the last time the HSBC Champions was held at Sheshan.

Kiradech Aphibarnrat
It's hard not to list the 24-year old Thailand player after his performance last week in Malaysia. Nearly winning the entire event, settling for a a top-5 finish -- Which was his second straight top-5 finish. He will be making his third appearance at Sheshan.