SHANGHAI, Aug. 2 -- CHINA'S Liang Wenchong will be hoping to stamp his class in the United States when he tees off at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational today, which also happens to be his 29th birthday.

Liang earned his place at the Ohio event after his triumphant run at the Singapore Masters in March. The Zhongshan, Guangdong Province, born golfer is enjoying a stellar season where he has also posted six other top-10s.

Tiger Woods will return to defend his title.

Liang became China's first millionaire golfer when he surpassed the US$1 million mark in career earnings on the Asian Tour in May. After this week's lucrative US$8 million event, Liang will make his major debut at the US PGA Championship - the year's fourth and final major.

"To have two big tournaments in a row is simply perfect for me," Liang said in a statement. "These two tournaments will be great opportunities for me to improve on my world ranking and to further test my game against the very best players in the world," said Liang, who is ranked 93rd in the world.

The other Asian Tour stars eager to leave an impression at the Bridgestone Invitational include India's Jeev Milkha Singh, winner of the UBS Order of Merit last year, Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand, who qualified through his victory at the season-ending Volvo Masters last December, and South African Anton Haig winner of the Johnnie Walker Classic in March.

Singh, 36, will be hoping to regain the winning form that saw him enjoy a fine 2006 season. He won four times across the world and broke into the world's top-50 for the first time in his career.

Meanwhile, Argentina's Andres Romero, one of the game's hottest players over the last fortnight, has been grouped with Woods for the first two rounds.

Romero, who clinched his maiden European Tour title at the Players Championship in Germany on Sunday, was stunned when he heard the news of his high-profile pairing late on Tuesday.

"I just found out 30 seconds ago," a beaming Romero said.

"It's going to be exciting and difficult at the same time. I admire his game a lot, so to have him in the same group the first two days is something I'm looking forward to."

The 26-year-old from Tucuman claimed the final spot in the 84-strong field with his breakthrough victory at Gut Kaden.

Ranked 114th in the world two weeks ago, the Argentine soared to 29th after finishing third at the British Open and then winning the Players Championship by three strokes.