Garcia out to defend title

Sergio Garcia is back from his mid-season slump and ready to defend his HSBC Champions title this week in Shanghai.

The Spaniard left Sheshan International Golf Club 12 months ago with the title and a career-high world ranking of second after beating Ryder Cup team-mate Oliver Wilson in a play-off before enjoying a productive Middle East swing at the start of the year.

But until a return to form at August’s Wyndham Championship yielded a fourth-place finish, a top-10 position at the US Open was all Garcia has to show for his efforts.

He now heads to Shanghai for the new World Golf Championships event as world number nine, but importantly on the back of a sixth place at the BMW Championship and fourth place at the Castello Masters at the end of last month.

“On the performance side, it was probably a little disappointing year. But if I had to think about how I have matured and how I learned not only in golf but in life, I think it’s been a very positive so you always have to look on the bright side,” said Garcia.

“As a defending champion it brings confidence, it brings me good thoughts. It’s a course where I have done well, so it’s always a positive thing.

“There is no doubt you are thinking about defending your title. But if I didn’t win last year, I would be standing here trying to win the title again so the main goal is still the same.”

Ross Fisher, fresh from his win at last week’s Volvo World Match Play Championship which elevated him to a career-high 17th in the world, also has found memories of Sheshan International Golf Club after only missing out in a play-off to Phil Mickelson in 2007.

Mickelson, along with world number one Tiger Woods, a two-time runner-up, return this year as the assembled field boasts 20 of the world’s top 30 and 14 of the top 15 in the Race to Dubai, with just two events remaining after Shanghai and with the Order of Merit still well of for grabs.

“The game is in good shape, although I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t tired,” said Fisher, who is now fourth in the Race to Dubai.

“This week being a WGC makes it more special. This field is very, very strong and obviously for me to have fond memories of a couple of years ago doing so well and having a chance to win, it’s just nice to be back in China.

“I don’t think the course owes me one. It was my fault I didn’t win. I should have won the tournament and I didn’t. That’s plain and simple. I had it in my own hands and unfortunately it wasn’t meant to be that year.

“That was obviously disappointing, but I’ll take a lot of positives and fond memories. I took on Mickelson on Saturday and Sunday and beat him over 36 holes of stroke play.”