The WGC-HSBC Champions represents the last chance for players to make it into the Top 70 in the Race to Dubai rankings, but a strong showing in Shanghai wont come easy. Forty of the worlds Top 50 golfers will be competing from Oct. 27-30, including eight of the Top 10.The Sheshan International Golf Club, once described as the crowning jewel of all of Asian golf by Tiger Woods, as perJeff Shainof PGA Tour, is a magnificent but challenging course that combines drastic elevation changes with a long finishing stretch that always produces drama.Last years surprise champion was Russell Knox, ranked 85thin the world rankings at the time and only the second winner to come from outside the Top 30.Given that rain and thunderstorms are expected on Wednesday and Thursday, as reported byRob Boltonof PGA Tour, we could be in for another surprising tournament in China.Players to WatchRory McIlroyIt is difficult to look beyond Rory McIlroy, the newly crowned FedEx Cup champion, for the favourite to win the HSBC Champions tournament.The world No. 3 is chasing Race to Dubai glory in an attempt to become only the second golfer ever to win the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai in the same year. McIlroy rarely disappoints when the pressure is high, and the chance to make history should drive him on to a successful few days.The Northern Irishman tied for 11that the HSBC last year, but he has finished inside the top 10 in all four of his other appearances.Although McIlroys putting has been far from perfect in 2016, he knows this venue very well and should be confident of putting those troubles behind him. After all, he had no such problems in September, when he won the Deutsche Bank Championship and the Tour Championship.As one of the worlds most consistent performers, McIlroy should be able to keep his momentum going and build upon his three previous top-five places at the Sheshan International Golf Club."I'd love to win in China again, and I've played well enough on this golf course to win but just haven't really doneenough when it mattered, McIlroy said, as perMark Ashendenof Sky Sports. Hopefully this year will be the year to change that." Dustin JohnsonRanked number two in the world and coming into this tournament as the PGA Player of the Year 2016, Dustin Johnson is the biggest threat to McIlroy.The 32-year-old American won this tournament in 2013, and after missing the event the following year, he tied for fifth in 2015. These may be his only three appearances at the course, but it is a strong record that cannot be ignored, as PGA Tour pointed out this week:Encouragingly, Johnsons only major win this year was the U.S. Open, which is a long and difficult course that shares some similarities with the event in China.His recent win at the BMW Championship should give Johnson the momentum he needs, while a second-placed finish at the FedEx Cup suggests he will, once again, take McIlroy to the wire.It is Johnsons somewhat sporadic success that makes him second favourite. Consistency remains a problem for the man named by his peers as the PGA Tour Player of the Year for the 2015-16 season.Adam ScottThe challenging weather conditions should favour the likes of Adam Scott, who is a strong tee-to-green player and looks ready to challenge the top five. Ranked sixth in the world, the Australian is well experienced playing golf in Asia and finished sixth on this course in 2008.Scott is a 13-time winner on the PGA tour and has enjoyed an excellent 2015-16 season, finishing in the top 10 on nine occasions. His last tournament win came in February, but Scott is the sort of competent and consistently performing golfer who could spring a surprise in Shanghai should the favourites suffer in the wind and rain. Prediction: McIlroy to win theWGC-HSBC Champions tournament.
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