Four way battle for world number one at HSBC Champions

Despite being confirmed on Monday as the top ranked player in world golf, Lee Westwood faces a battle this week to hold onto his world number one status.

As the world’s five principal golf tours descend on Shanghai, the best players in the world come together for the HSBC Champions event at the Sheshan International Golf Club in China.

And Westwood will face competition from Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Martin Kaymer who are all in contention to be the world number one next week, and all four head the HSBC Champions betting odds.

Woods, despite his poor season, still commands the 7/1 favouritism, with Mickelson available at 10/1 to win in Shanghai and Westwood and Kaymer both available at 16/1.

In what has been a great year for European golf, it’s a surprise to see the two American’s heading the betting, especially considering their poor form recently.

Graeme McDowell is arguably the most in-form player of the moment and he is priced as long as 25/1 to win the HSBC Champions despite winning for the third time this year in Spain last week.

The US Open champion is still riding high from his Ryder Cup heroics and he would love to prove for a second time this year that he belongs with the greats.

Another Ryder Cup hero, albeit he was on the losing team, has been in tremendous form recently and after a top six finish last week where he shot under 70 for all four rounds, Rickie Fowler is also priced at 25/1.

78 of the world’s best players are battling it out for the €860,153 first prize and the Asian Tour will be hopeful of Ryo Ishikawa battling with Fowler and Rory McIlroy for the title of most exciting youngster on tour – Ishikawa is 80/1 to win in Shanghai.

Rory McIlroy is 20/1 to win the HSBC Champions event. See the full HSBC Champions betting odds here.