Shanghai: Rising Indian golfer Gaganjeet Bhullar is hoping to improve his world rankings with a good finish on the leaderboard this weekend when he tees up for his third appearance at the WGC-HSBC Champions which begins on Thursday.
Bhullar is currently ranked 185 in the world and is eyeing a huge leap up the rankings with a solid performance at the year's final World Golf Championship.
"This week is really going to be important one for my world ranking. Last week in Malaysia was good but I felt I could have done better. These are the opportunities which we get through the Asian Tour and I would really love to make my mark," said Bhullar.
Bhullar will face off against the world's best players at the Sheshan International Golf Club and like the other Asian players in the field this week, he is confident of a good showing.
"Gone are the days when Asians are in the field just to make up the numbers. We're right up there and every time one or the other is in contention now. I'm really happy for Kiradech as he played really well last week," said Bhullar.
The Indian has four victories on the region's premier Tour and earned his place at this week's WGC-HSBC Champions courtesy his position on the Asian Tour Order of Merit where he is ranked third.
"I've been enjoying a good streak so far and I'm just waiting for the best to happen in my career. With more opportunities to compete against these top players, I'm also going to be a better player myself too," said Bhullar.
Having learnt a new Chinese phrase this week, the 25-year-old also hopes its meaning will prove prophetic.
"I learnt a new Chinese phrase and it says Wo ta de heng hao (I've played very well) and I hope that comes true this week," smiled Bhullar.
The battle of champions will see Asia's best players challenge the likes of American stars Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner, Bubba Watson and Boo Weekley as well as defending champion Ian Poulter and 2012 Open Champion Ernie Els, who is a honorary member and international ambassador of the Asian Tour.
For the first time, the HSBC Champions will become part of the PGA TOUR's FedExCup schedule, with money earned counting as official money on the PGA TOUR, and the winner earning a three-year exemption on the PGA TOUR.
The HSBC Champions will also award full FedExCup points, plus the 10 percent premium awarded by all World Golf Championships compared to a regular PGA TOUR event.
With these changes the HSBC Champions is now in line with the other three World Golf Championships played in the United States and is also a key part of the 2013 European Tour's Final Series.
The WGC-HSBC Champions prize fund has increased to USD 8,500,000 from USD 7,000,000 and is one of four World Golf Championships sanctioned and organised by the operational committee of the International Federation of PGA Tours, which includes the Asian Tour, European Tour, Japan Golf Tour, PGA TOUR, PGA Tour of Australasia and Sunshine Tour.
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