I’m a little salty that one of my picks didn’t win as they had the first two weeks of the 2013-2014 PGA Tour season. I blame that on Keegan Bradley’s third-round 76.

Ryan Moore is no slouch, however, taking down Gary Woodland in a playoff to win the CIMB Classic. And hot golfers add another interesting component to this week’s World Golf Championship event— the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, China.

That’s right, it’s almost November and the gravitational pull to Sheshan International Golf Course is apparently strong with a bevy of the world’s top talent ready to hit the links for a 78-person, no-cut event.

Basically, only Tiger Woods and Adam Scott aren’t competing, which is a rare treat for fantasy selections. And as such, wading through all the potential candidates for victory can be head scratching, especially given the layoffs that most have experienced since the 2013 FedEx Cup season ended.

Points, an $8.5 million purse, a three-year exemption and several major tournament entries are up for grabs on a signature venue that Woods once dubbed “the crowning jewel in all of Asian golf.” Lofty praise.

The tournament starts on Halloween, so let’s take a long look at any baffling characters, those ones that will collect all the candy, and those that are downright frightening. Get your costumes ready, it’s Risk, Reward, Ruin.

RISK

Can the big names turn it back on for this marquee event? For European Tour players, it’s the end of their season, so it won’t be hard. Keep that in mind when considering an American.

That said, track record at this event is important— and toss out last year’s visit to Mission Hills. Sheshan has rolling hills and undulating greens, and will allow for low scores as it did from 2007-2011. Some potentially scary choices are out there, but now’s the time to take the risk, as long as you keep your number of starts per player in mind.

Henrik Stenson

The biggest struggle with Stenson right now is a wrist injury. Of course, the Swede was iffy prior to the Deutsch Bank and utterly demolished the field.

He’s long and accurate and in a groove. No reason to think he won’t be at the top of the leaderboard if the wrist becomes a non-issue.

Costume: IKEA Swedish meatball. Plain and so good, but you don’t really know why.

Ernie Els

The Big Easy has torn up this course in previous years. (T33 in 2011, T6 in 2010, 2nd in 2009). While he’s not the threat he once was, any course that fits his eye could lead to a solid four-day total.

Els is also superb in links-style golfer, which this Sheshan course has a tendency toward. Did I mention he owns two course-record 63’s? And he does it all while a big smile.

Costume: Sweater-around-the-neck yacht owner sipping wine from his own vineyard.

Dustin Johnson

D.J. has never played this course before, which signals “proceed with caution,” yet he’s as complete a golfer as is in the field. He finished T5 at East Lake in the TOUR Championship and has seemingly settled into his new routine post-engagement to the lovely Paulina Gretzky.

Costume: Wayne Gretzky (L.A. Kings jersey) to score any last-minute brownie points.

The Spaniards

Sergio Garcia is a tee-to-green specialist. Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano is coming off a big win at the BMW Masters. Miguel Angel Jimenez just puts a cigar in his mouth and goes out there and promptly shows up all the young’uns.

Costume: The Three Musketeers

Jordan Spieth

What hasn’t the 20-year-old Rookie of the Year done this year? Very little, and while there may still be doubt as to whether Spieth can continue his hot play for years to come, he has every bit the makeup needed to be the next big Tour star. What better way to do that than win a WGC event.

Costume: Maverick from Top Gun. Wingman not needed.

REWARD

There are big names all over the field, including the major winners from this year minus Adam Scott. Brandt Snedeker is competing, as is Bradley and the ever-orange Rickie Fowler. Here’s who most entices me.

Phil Mickelson

Maybe you’re worried about Mickelson’s statement that his game is “as far off as it’s ever been.” I’m not, at least on a course he has decimated to the tune of back-to-back championships in 2008 and 2009.

The last time I doubted Mickelson on a course that he loves was Torrey Pines last year. Not making the same mistake twice.

Costume: Shooter McGavin, double pistols out

Rory McIlroy

Sure, McIlroy has had his recent well-publicized swing struggles, but the further along we go in time, the more comfortable he is appearing on the course. McIlroy began playing well down the stretch of the Playoffs, and a long stay in China just may do the trick to get a win and quiet his critics. His track record at Sheshan is solid: fourth in 2009, fifth in 2010 and tied for fourth in 2011.

Costume: British tabloid writer

Lee Westwood

If there’s anything we’ve learned about Westwood, it’s that he’ll put himself in contention, but somehow find a way to blow a lead or wind up just off the podium.

But if you’re picking based on potential FedEx Cup points, his high finishes (T13 in 2011, 2nd in 2011, 8th in 2009 and T2 in 2008) will give you confidence for a big takeaway.

Costume: Bridesmaid. Always a bridesmaid.

Martin Kaymer

Remember when Kaymer won the 2010 PGA Championship and reached No. 1 in the Official World Golf rankings? It has been a struggle for the German to validate that potential since, but he’s begun to return to top form and is back on the site of his only other Tour victory.

Kaymer blew away the field in 2011, winning by three strokes over Fredrik Jacobson after shooting 63. When he’s out of the limelight, he’s comfortable and dangerous.

Costume: James Bond

Paul Casey

This is my pick to win. Sure, he has one PGA Tour win to his credit, but he also has 12 European Tour wins and two Asian Tour wins.

Don’t believe he’s ready for this? Check out his track record: T6 in 2007, T9 in 2008, T6 in 2010 and T4 in 2011. And that’s with the career downturn that the three-time Ryder Cup golfer has since navigated.

Costume: Well-camouflaged sniper

RUIN

I see some ghastly faces appearing in this field. And, in all honesty, you’re likely to stay away from picking names you’ve rarely heard of. They do exist in the field thanks to entries based upon Australasian Tour wins and others. Avoid, avoid, avoid.

So, let’s focus on names you have at least heard of. If it looks like a witch, cackles like a witch and flies like a witch, it’s a witch.

David Howell

He has a win in 2006 to his credit, in which he took down Woods by three strokes with four stellar rounds. But the Englishman is far from pickable this week. He’s only in by winning the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. That may be enticing— to take a hot golfer— but there are better choices with year-to-year championship pedigree.

Costume: Magician [promptly disappears]

D.A. Points

The Illinois-native has two PGA Tour wins to his credit, but when it comes to big tournaments, Points has a tendency to get outclassed by his competitors.

His major championship finishes the last six years are not even close to good, and now he’s playing against most of the players who regularly beat him in majors.

Costume: The Cowardly Lion

Branden Grace

Grace has won in China before, at the 2012 Volvo China Open, but a WGC event is hardly the same environment. The four-time winner on the European Tour made the Presidents Cup this year, but the South African’s game is still at a middling level. He’s shown promise, but isn’t quite ready for the main stage.

Costume: Clark Kent

Scott Piercy

Piercy finished in a tie for second last year (2012), but the course is different and the Las Vegas native is nowhere near as hot as he was during the 2012 season when he won the RBC Canadian Open and parlayed that win into a strong finish on the road to Shanghai. He’s already missed a cut at the Shriners Open, in which he finished sixth the year before.

Costume: Ice cube (not the rapper)

Peter Uihlein

So far, Jordan Spieth has done what Peter Uihlein, another high acclaimed amateur champion, has not. Uihlein is also making his WGC debut this week, but he has a lot to prove to compete for four days with the world’s best, including Spieth.

Costume: Chris O’Donnell’s circa 1995 Robin.

What’s your favorite part of Halloween? Find me on Twitter @bricmiller to discuss that, costume ideas and anything golf related. Hopefully, you find a few more treats than tricks this weekend. Best of luck!