Tiger Woods to miss Champions Tournament

LONDON: World number one Tiger Woods will miss the $5 million Champions Tournament in Shanghai for the first time this year.   

"Due to personal and professional scheduling issues, Tiger Woods will not compete...but we hope to welcome him back in 2008 and beyond," said tournament sponsor HSBC on its official website on Thursday.   

Woods featured prominently in the first two editions of the event, often referred to as "Asia's major championship".   

The American was second behind Briton David Howell in 2005 and again finished runner-up a year later, this time to South Korea's Yang Yong-eun.   

Although Woods will be missing, Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia have confirmed their intention to compete at the Sheshan International Golf Club from Nov. 8-11.   

World number four Els is poised to make his debut at the tournament.   

"I have heard great things about it from my colleagues," said the South African.   

"With the strength of field and the substantial prize money on offer, it is a very important event to include in my schedule as I aim to head back up the world and European Tour rankings."  

World number seven Singh, like Els a winner of three major championships, said: "I had a great week in Shanghai at the inaugural event in 2005, finishing tied fifth, and hope to do better this year."   

The Champions Tournament is co-sanctioned by the European, Asian, Australasian and Sunshine tours and the China Golf Association.