Asian Tour debutants ready for Shanghai test at WGC-HSBC Champions

golf icon isn 3Shanghai: The finest players from the Asian Tour are ready to serve notice of their talents when the year's final World Golf Championship- HSBC Championship gets underway on Thursday.

It has been a dream season for Philippines' Miguel Tabuena, Korea's Jeunghun Wang and Chinese Taipei's Chan Shih-chang and their sensational run on the Asian Tour continues with the trio coming up against the world's best players at the Sheshan International Golf Club this week.

With eight of the world's top-10 players teeing off at the US$9.5 million Chinese showpiece, it will be a contest like no other for Tabuena.

"I’m truly excited about this week. I know my game is there and if I can play my cards right, I can do well. It's just a matter of self-belief as I know I have the talent to perform at the highest level. ," said Tabuena.

For the 22-year old who grew up idolising the likes of former world number one Tiger Woods, his entry into the WGC-HSBC Champions marks the coming of age for Tabuena.

"I remembered watching Tiger play in the WGC-HSBC Champions as a spectator and to be able to tee up in the same tournament as he did is really a dream come true for me," said the Filipino.

Wang is also looking forward to a memorable week in Shanghai having enjoyed a spectacular season highlighted by two back-to-back wins in Morocco and Mauritius in May.

The victory in Mauritius along with three other top-five results helped the young Korean to move inside the top-10 on the Order of Merit where he currently sits in fourth place.

"This is another big event for me and the key is not to get too nervous. The pressure got to me last week in Malaysia. But it’s a brand new week and I know I can do well if I stay calm," said Wang, who finished tied for 29th in Malaysia last week.

Chan is meanwhile reaping the rewards of his two Asian Tour victories in Thailand and Japan this season.

Those victories have earned him a place in the elite 78-man field and it is another challenge which the 30-year-old is relishing.

“It has been a wild ride so far but I’m enjoying every minute of it. I’m looking forward to the week and putting up a performance that I can be really proud of,” said Chan.