Tiger Ahead of Phil at HSBC; Phil Takes Leads in Promoting China Golf

The second round of the WGC HSBC Champions is in the book, and Tiger Woods shares the lead with Nick Watney. One stroke back, tied for third is Phil Mickelson. Someone needs to remind Woods and Mickelson that they don't have to go all the way to China to stage a head-to-head duel; we'd be happy to have them do it in America or Europe, just as well. But we'll take what we can get, and if we can get a Tiger-Phil duel down the stretch, then many golfers are likely to be staying up late to watch it. The HSBC Champions leaderboard is here.

Both superstars have talked about the future of golf in China being huge. And they are right. It's simple demographics: If golf becomes a passion in China, then in 20 years many of the best golfers in the sport will be Chinese golfers.

And both superstars have talked of wanting to promote the growth of the game in China. While Tiger leads in the tournament, Phil has pulled slightly ahead in the promotional department. Mickelson is already designing a golf course in Tianjin, but on Friday he added the news that he's going to open a golf academy in Kunming.

"In Kunming we are putting a golf academy and we are putting a par-3 course where kids can enjoy and learn at the grassroots so that 25 years down the road we build support for the game of golf in China," Mickelson said.

Mickelson's instructional DVD and book are also going to be released in Mandarin.

Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer battled for years on the golf course, and also took their battles off the course into the business world - club companies, design companies, real estate companies and more. Looks like Tiger and Phil are heading in that direction, too.