Course: Kaula Lumpur Golf and Country Club, West Course. 6,900 yards, which is a short one, but not devoid of trouble and not a course that can be easily overpowered. This is a different course than the one that hosted the LPGA event a few weeks ago, but it is the same country club. Ball striking and putting will be the key here.
Strength Of Field: B-. This is a preview of the kind of field we will see next week at the WGC event. I may be giving this event a better score than it's worth because it's a far better field then we saw the first three weeks, but I am rather excited about this one.
Extra Tidbits: This is the only non-major/non-WGC event PGA Tour event held outside of North America...Top Asian professional will get the opportunity to play alongside the PGA Tour professionals. The top 10 from the Asian Tour will play, as well as Japanese PGA Tour pros Hideki Matsuyama and Ryo Ishikawa. China's Guan Tainlang gets a sponsor's exemption, as well as two Malaysian pros, Nicholas Feng and Danny Chia...Nicholas Thompson will get a little bit of motivation to win this week - his sister, Lexi, won the event in Malaysia last year on the East Course...David Love III, fresh off of hosting the McGladrey Classic, will tee it up this week. He is the oldest man in the field. Guan Tainlang wasn't born yet when Love won the PGA Championship in 1997.
Fantasy Four:
Ryo Ishikawa - For some reason, I see Ishikawa winning this event. He has burnt me a lot in the past, but this seems like the kind of event Ishikawa could win (limited field, no cut, in Asia). Made the cut and finished inside the top 30 in the first two events this season. Has struggled early in events, but has made his moves on the weekend.
Hideki Matsuyama - I have played Matsuyama each week he has tee'd it up, and it has worked out this far as he has not finished outside the top 10 this season. If the leaderboard stays somewhere around ten under par, Matsuyama could be sprinting towards the finish. Great ball striker, which sets up perfectly on this course.
Lee Westwood - As much of a sleeper as I'm going to plug in this week. Has had success on this course in the past, and seems to be heading in the right direction, but may no longer be a top tier player. Could finish anywhere on the leaderboard and it would not be much of a surprise. Should feel rejuvenated after a strong Ryder Cup.
Sergio Garcia - One of the best global players out there, as he has won on virtually every continent. Well rested following the Ryder Cup, and is gearing up for the European Tour finals. Top ranked player in the field who, I believe, is in for a monster year.
Last Weeks Team:
Tony Finau: T14
Adam Hadwin: MDF
Alex Cejka: CUT
Chris Kirk: T4
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