2012 WGC-HSBC Champions Discussion Thread

[mvmac]

Here are some things You Oughta Know for Sunday’s final round of the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shenzhen, China:

• Co-leader Lee Westwood can win his first World Golf Championships event in his 41 ^st start, the most by any player. The 39-year-old’s best result (three times) in a WGC was a runner-up finish, most recently at the 2010 HSBC Champions.

• Saturday’s third-round 61, which included 11 birdies, was Westwood’s second 61 in the past three weeks. He also went low during the semifinals of the Turkish Airlines World Golf Final to defeat Charl Schwartzel (but he eventually lost in finals).

• Westwood’s best round of his PGA Tour career wasn’t even the lowest round of the day Saturday. That honor belonged to Brandt Snedeker , whose course- and WGC-record 60 on the Olazabal Course at Mission Hills vaulted the FedEx Cup champion from 38 ^th to seventh entering the final round.

• Louis Oosthuizen has failed to convert a 54-hole lead into victory twice already this season: Shell Houston Open (finished third) and Deutsche Bank Championship (second). He had a five-shot lead entering the third round in China, but his 2-under 70 wasn’t enough to stay in front by himself.

• Phil Mickelson , three shots behind after 54 holes, will be looking for his third WGC title – and third HSBC victory – on Sunday. His win at the 2009 HSBC Champions was his last top 10 in a WGC event (a streak of eight events), and a victory here would make the 42-year-old the second-oldest player to win a WGC title ( Vijay Singh , then 45, won the 2008 Bridgestone).

[KrazyTrain18]

I've been watching each round late at night, was hoping for Scott to win, but he's pretty much out unless he goes real low tomorrow, so hopefully Louis gets it done.

[WWBDD]

It sounded like Poulter was ready to throttle a spectator ... approach on 9th I think.

[WWBDD]

This is good TV ...

Westwood, Els, Poulter, Oosthuizen, and Mickelson all within 2 strokes of each other on the back nine ... Dufner and Kaymer a couple behnd them.

[phan52]

It was pretty good TV until Poulter pulled away on the back nine. That dude can really putt in the clutch.

While watching, it struck me that they always seemed to be playing a par 5. I didn't notice until after it was over when I looked at Poulter's scorecard on-line that there were five par 5's and five par 3's on that course. First time I ever saw that.