ESPN Golf Experts' picks: WGC-HSBC Champions

WGC-HSBC Champions

- Defending champion: Dustin Johnson (not in the field this week due to a leave of absence)

- Tee times, leaderboard | Experts' picks

- Photos from the WGC-HSBC Champions, golf tours

- Venue: Sheshan International Golf Club; par-72; 7,199 yards

- Location: Shanghai, China

- TV coverage: Wednesday-Saturday, 10 p.m.-3 a.m. ET on Golf Channel

- Payout: An 86-man field with winner taking $1.53 million of an $8.5 million purse

- Money leaders | Schedule | Rankings

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Each week of the season, our experts share their insights into which players fit the criteria for our four categories: Horse for the Course (a golfer who knows the track inside and out), Birdie Buster (a guy who could take it low), Super Sleeper (a player who could unexpectedly contend) and Winner.

This week, the PGA Tour heads to Shanghai, China, for the WGC-HSBC Champions.

Horse for the Course

Michael Collins, ESPN.com senior golf analyst: Martin Kaymer

The reigning U.S. Open champion has had plenty of success at this event. Five starts, one win (2011) and only one finish outside the top-10 qualifies perfectly for this category. He finished second at the Volvo World Match Play a couple of weeks ago, so he won't be rusty.

Farrell Evans, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Sergio Garcia

El Nino is coming off a tie for second last week in Malaysia. He finished fourth at the HSBC Champions in 2013 with an 18-under total that included a final-round 63.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Graeme McDowell

McDowell finished third in each of the two most recent HSBC Champions events at Sheshan International and is coming off a tie for 16th last week at the BMW Masters in Shanghai.

Birdie Buster

Collins: Ian Poulter

With a top-three finish this week, this course and event might just be that place for the Englishman. A win in 2012 and a runner-up finish last year, both of which produced 21-under scores, give an idea of what happens when other golfers find their happy place. He comes off a 48th-place finish at last week's BMW Masters on the European Tour.

Evans: Rickie Fowler

The 25-year-old former Oklahoma State star is coming off the best season of his career. In 2014, he had 10 top-10s, including top-5s in all four majors. He launches his 2014-15 wraparound season this week at the WGC-HSBC Champions, where he finished last year in a tie for 55th.

Harig: Sergio Garcia

Although he hasn't won since the start of the year, Garcia is seemingly in contention every week. He has been in the top 10 in his past three starts and tied for second last week at the CIMB Classic.

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Collins: Mu Hu

I could throw out a whole bunch of stats about the 25-year-old from China, like his third-place finish a couple of weeks ago on a Challenge Tour event, or his 53rd-place showing in the BMW Masters last week. But that would take away from the real reason I'm rooting for this guy. Would you, could you, boo Mu Hu?!

Evans: Marcel Siem

The 34-year-old German won the BMW Masters last week in Shanghai in a playoff over Alexander Levy to get into the field at the HSBC Champions. He doesn't have the pedigree of some of the bigger names at Sheshan International, but his recent success gives him a competitive edge over most of the field.

Harig: Jamie Donaldson

The Welshman who clinched the winning point for Europe at the Ryder Cup has been having a very nice year, including four straight top-10s in stroke-play events. He tied for fourth at the BMW Masters last week and was tied for eighth at this tournament a year ago.

Winner

Collins: Victor Dubuisson

The man has not taken much of a break since the Ryder Cup, having played in four events since the Euro team's victory. The experience he's gained since his runner-up finish at last season's WGC-Match Play will give him the confidence to close the deal for his first PGA Tour win this week.

Evans: Martin Kaymer

The reigning U.S. Open champion took this title in 2011. He's rejuvenated after a busy 2014 season to continue consistent play in the game's biggest events. Kaymer has had only one top-10 -- a T-7 at the Deutsche Bank Championship in August -- since his victory at Pinehurst in June.

Harig: Justin Rose

The Englishman has been consistently solid of late, leading all players with the most points at the Ryder Cup and finishing tied for fourth in his past two stroke-play starts, including last week in Shanghai. He was also fifth at this tournament a year ago. A win here would give him three worldwide in 2014.