HSBC Women's Champions welcomes world number one battle

Sixty-three players descend on Singapore this week for the fourth edition of the HSBC Women's Champions and as well as the prestigious tournament title itself, the world number one ranking is also up for grabs.

Defending champion Ai Miyazato, currently sixth on the Rolex Rankings and second-placed Jiyai Shin, the 2009 winner, are just two of the players chasing the HSBC Women's Champions' $1.4 million prize purse, with Yani Tseng, Suzann Pettersen, Cristie Kerr, and Na Yeon Choi all within striking distance of the number one spot.

The fight for the top spot on the Rolex Rankings is an appropriate backdrop for the fourth HSBC Women's Champions, which counts only players that have been ranked at some time as world number one as its past champions - Lorena Ochoa (2008), Shin (2009) and then Miyazato 12 months ago.   Shin, a two-time winner on the LPGA Tour in 2010, said: "The HSBC Women's Champions has got a great reputation with the players and we all know that only players who have been number one in the world have won in Singapore.

"This is not only an event at which we are treated so well, but one we all want to win. That is especially the case for me, having won the HSBC Women's Champions in the past."

In addition to the world's leading six golfers, fellow top-10 ranked players In Kyung Kim, Song-Hee Kim and Michelle Wie will be in Singapore. Paula Creamer, who missed last year's event due to injury, Karrie Webb, Morgan Pressel, Se Ri Pak and Natalie Gulbis will also be part of the field.   Giles Morgan, HSBC Group Head of sponsorship, added: "Each edition of the HSBC Women's Champions has seen a world-class winner who has played world-class golf to win.

"Actually having the number one spot available certainly adds to the excitement, as we know from when Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson all arrived at the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai last year in the same situation."

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