Tiger Woods looks ahead to Shanghai Open

World number one Tiger Woods will lead the strongest field of golfers ever assembled in Asia on Thursday. That's when the 5th HSBC Champions tournament gets underway in Shanghai.

Phil Mickelson of the U.S., left, and his compatriot Tiger Woods hit the balls during a photo call of the HSBC Champions golf tournament Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 in Shanghai, China. The golf tournament will be held at Shanghai Sheshan International Golf Club from Nov. 5 to 8. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

The event will be part of the World Golf Championships for the first time. The winner will receive 68 world ranking points in addition to a record prize fund totaling 7-million US dollars. It makes the HSBC Champions the highest ranked event played outside the United States this year, behind the Open Championship. Tiger Woods is the biggest attraction in what some people say is the strongest field ever to compete in Asia, with former champions Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and South Korea's Yang Yong-eun all trying to win the event for the second time. Woods is impressed by the event's meteoric rise from regional to global significance in a very short time.

Tiger Woods said, "I've been a part of it on two occasions and how this event has grown to what it is now is truly remarkable. It's great to be a part of and this year with the field that we have, it's going to be a lot of fun. I think everyone is going to be thrilled to see a lot of players that they haven't had a chance to see before and we as players are looking forward to competing in such a great event."