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Harrington & Casey can overshadow No. 1 contenders

It hasn't always been easy for Padraig Harrington this year © Getty Images

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After waiting so long to reach the summit of the world rankings, Lee Westwood is at risk of having the No. 1 spot snatched away from him after just one week. The most severe threat to the Englishman will come from Tiger Woods and Martin Kaymer, who both tee it up at the WGC-HSBC Champions event in Shanghai this week.

While the battle for No.1 will provide a compelling sideshow - it will be intriguing to see how Woods reacts to being knocked off his perch for the first time in five years - we're going to take a risk and suggest that the tournament victor will not be plucked from that select group of players.

Westwood, who will make his return from injury, has admitted that he is some way short of 100% fitness, while Kaymer showed the signs of fatigue last week as he crumbled at the Andalucia Valderrama Masters. As for Woods, he's been far too volatile this year to warrant any sort of assertive declaration on his chances.

So where can we look for value? Well, examining the course leaves you with the inescapable feeling that the victor will need to possess formidable power from the tee and a steady eye on the greens. Sheshan International offers the most fearsome of tests, with its substantial yardage and undulating putting surfaces.

Padraig Harrington (28/1), who won in Asia last month for his first triumph in two years, appears to have the tools to push for the title. It hasn't been a stellar year for the Irishman, but his recent performances do not support the widely-held belief that he is a shadow of his former self - he has five top tens on the PGA Tour in 2010.

Now he has ended his long wait for a trophy, he is insisting that he can use the momentum to press for more. "Winning is a habit so it's nice to come out here and win and do it in style," he said after coming out on top at the Iskandar Johor Open.

The Ryder Cup star has a peerless record at Sheshan - four appearances, with a worst finish of 15th - and we fancy him to send another message out to his doubters by storming to the win in Shanghai.

Paul Casey has what it takes to challenge © Getty Images

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When it comes to course form, Paul Casey (16/1) is another whose record demands attention. The Englishman, controversially overlooked for a place in the Ryder Cup squad, has three top tens from four visits. Having been cast aside by European skipper Colin Montgomerie, the world No. 7 will be desperate to re-assert his position as one of the planet's finest players.

Casey, who has finished in the top four in his last two tournaments, is nicely rested and has the type of game that is sure to go well in China. Take a look each-way.

To finish, a couple of long shots for those who dare to dream. First up, one of golf's forgotten men, Anthony Kim - who, to put it bluntly, has been playing atrociously since returning to the sport in August following an injury-enforced absence.

But you can't escape the suspicion that Kim is far too good a player to be listed as a 100/1 shot, despite his recent woes. He's just had a two-month break, which is sure to have helped him iron out the flaws in his game, plus he finished 10th here last year. Worth a small investment.

Elsewhere - and we're grasping at straws a bit here - Fredrik Andersson-Hed, one of the best putters in the world, looks to be priced up a little too highly at 200/1. He's playing nicely at present, with three rounds of 69 or lower in his past five, so we'd advise a small interest if you feel luck's on your side.

All odds, correct at time of publication, courtesy of Stan James. Click here to open an account and receive a £25 free bet.

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