Rory McIlroy has not won all season, has gone from world number one to sixth in the rankings and is 62nd on a European Tour money list which he won last year to go with the US equivalent and five victories, including a second major title.

LEE WESTWOOD has been officially confirmed as golf’s new world number one.

Irish Open winner Shane Lowry shared second spot at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions in Shanghai today, carding an opening day 66 to sit at six under.

TIGER WOODS isn’t one of those American golfers content to sit at home from one end of the year to the other and flood his already overflowing bank account with still more dollars.

This year’s edition of the HSBC Champions in China has received a significant boost with elevation to the elite World Golf Championships and a $2m (€1.5m) increase in prize money.

New world number two Sergio Garcia edged out Ryder Cup team-mate Oliver Wilson in a play-off to win a thrilling rain-affected HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

Oliver Wilson maintained his bid for a maiden career title and his one-stroke lead over former US Open champion Geoff Ogilvy at the rain-affected HSBC Champions after the fourth round in Shanghai briefly got underway.

England’s Oliver Wilson, who has yet to claim his maiden career title, admitted his confidence is soaring after moving within a shot of HSBC Champions second-round leaders Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia.

Zimbabwe’s Marc Cayeux made a flying start to the delayed second round at the rain-affected HSBC Champions in Shanghai today to open up a one-stroke lead at the top of a congested leaderboard at a damp Sheshan International Golf Club.

The start of today’s delayed second round of the HSBC Champions in Shanghai has been pushed back at least three hours after heavy overnight rain left parts of the Sheshan International Golf Club flooded.

Play on day two at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai has been abandoned due to rain and a waterlogged course at the Sheshan International Golf Club.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson stormed out of the blocks at the HSBC Champions today to set the pace along with American Anthony Kim and Thailand’s Prayad Marksaeng at the season-opening event in Shanghai.

Organisers of the Barclays Singapore Open have revealed the Asian Tour's flagship tournament will swap dates with the HSBC Champions event later this year.

Ross Fisher boosted his confidence ahead of the new European Tour season after pushing world number two Phil Mickelson to the limit at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

English duo Ross Fisher and Paul Casey will go head-to-head with world number two Phil Mickelson in the final round of the HSBC Champions as the American looks to defend a two-stroke lead in Shanghai.

Kevin Stadler continued to dominate the elite field at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai after the American carded a second round three-under-par 69 to take the clubhouse lead on 11-under at the Sheshan International Golf Club today.

England’s Ross Fisher produced a second consecutive four-under-par 68 today to trail HSBC Champions second-round leader Kevin Stadler by three strokes at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai.

Open champion Padraig Harrington was in a group chasing surprise first round pacesetters Niclas Fasth and Kevin Stadler at the HSBC Champions in Shanghai.

World Match Play champion Ernie Els is looking to put the disappointment of missing the cut at last week's Singapore Open behind him when the HSBC Champions tournament gets under way in Shanghai on Thursday.

Former US Open champion Michael Campbell admits taking part in tournaments in the Far East can often hold more appeal than always playing on the PGA Tour.

South Korea's Yang Yung-eun won the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai after carding a three-under 69 to complete a two-shot victory over Tiger Woods.

Retief Goosen does not believe Tiger Woods is his toughest opponent in the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai.

Tiger Woods appeared to have made a return to form with a course record-equalling 64 yesterday, but his chances of winning the HSBC Champions took a blow as he struggled again on the third day in Shanghai.

An absence from golf seems to have done Michael Campbell no harm as he took an early lead at the HSBC Champions after carding a six-under-par 66 on the opening day in Shanghai.

European number one Padraig Harrington is keen to continue his recent good form and claim the HSBC Champions tournament that gets underway in Shanghai tomorrow.

Tiger Woods has shrugged off criticism levelled at him for missing last week’s high-profile PGA Tour Championship in America.

Defending champion David Howell is relishing the opportunity to defend his HSBC Champions title when the inaugural tournament gets under way in Shanghai on Thursday.

Ryder Cup star Henrik Stenson, Thomas Bjorn and Colombian sensation Camilo Villegas are the latest players to commit to playing in the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai next month.

PÁDRAIG HARRINGTON is hopeful that a recent run of good form will culminate in a serious challenge for this week’s inaugural HSBC Championship at the Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai, China.

Scotland’s Marc Warren will find himself playing alongside the world’s top golfers next month after booking his place in the HSBC Champions Tournament in China by winning the 2005 Challenge Tour.