This week

CIMB Classic

TPC Kuala Lumpur, West, 7,005 yards, par 72

Course design:  Nelson and Haworth designers, 1991, redesign: Ted and Geoff Parslow of E&G Parslow and Associates 2008. The Parslow brothers are Australian and have designed course in ‘Stralia, Africa, Europe and Asia.

Defending champion: Justin Thomas, 262, -26, 72 hole record on TPC West

Ryan Moore won the tournament back to back in 2013 and 2014 and set the single round course record with a 63.

Nine of the top 13 Fed Ex Cup finishers are playing this week. They are Patrick Reed (3), Adam Scott (4),, Scott finished second to Thomas last year shooting -25, one shot back, Paul Casey (5), Ryan Moore (7), Russell Knox (10), Emilliano Grillo (11), Justin Thomas (12), and Hideki Matsuyama (13).

Weather: low 90’s all week-weekend, chances of rain and t-storms every day, but should pass through quickly.

TV: Golf Channel every night:

Tonight: 10:30 PM-2:30 AM ET/9:30 PM-1:30 AM CT

Thursday: 10:30 PM-2:30 AM ET/9:30 PM-1:30 AM CT 

Friday: 11 PM-3 AM ET/10 PM-2 AM CT

Saturday: 11 PM-3 AM ET/10 PM-2 AM CT.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia is 13 hours ahead of the central time zone and 12 hours ahead of Eastern zone.

Key Holes

No.2: 444 yards, Par 4

The course description calls this a “thinkers” tee shot in which the players have to hit their tee shots to the left or right depending on the pin location to get the best angle to the hole for a birdie opportunity. For the longer hitters, a 3 wood would be the best choice as driver might find the lake. If the hole location is back left, a tee shot to the right side of the fairway is the most advantageous shot, and for a back right or central hole location, a tee shot to the left side of the fairway is advisable. A precision mid or short iron is necessary to this huge, undulating green protected by four large bunkers and the lake to the left.

No.10, 559 yards, par 5

An aggressive drive requires precision with a lake to the right and bunkers on the left. A missed tee shot to the left can leave the player with a tough second shot with the ball being well below your feet causing a player to hit it to the right and in trouble. There will be trees to negotiate on the left hand side. The cross bunkers just short of the green to the right demand a long explosion shot and need to be avoided. The approach to the green takes a lot of thinking as the player is hitting to a narrow, well bunkered green. Pretty challenging par 5.

No.15, 199 yards, par 3

A picturesque hole that is strategically difficult. Hole locations are tricky and the player needs to make sure he doesn’t hit the short side of the green to the front and right as there is a lake in front, bunkers to the right, and not too much green to work with if you are in the traps or on the right side. The green is quite undulating, many mounds on it, and can leave some challenging long putts. A par is solid here, a birdie is a bonus.

No. 16, 318 yards, par 4

This is an exciting hole as the player must decide whether to go for it or not. The recommended “smart” play is to hit the tee shot to the first bunker on the right and leave a wedge shot to the narrow, undulating green. There is a lake in front and running down the entire right side of the hole. Hole locations can be tricky. The players must beware of the hidden green side bunker short right. 

No. 17, 336 yards, par 4

Called one of the most beautiful holes in the world of golf, the fairway is split by a stream running right through the middle of it. The hole location determines whether the player should hit it to the  right or left fairway. A back right pin placement means the player should hit it to the left fairway to go for the birdie. However, a long, accurate drive is necessary to carry the stream and miss the left bunkers. The conservative way to play the hole is to play it with a long iron or fairway wood up the right fairway then hit a wedge approach to the bunkered, undulating green. The backdrop is phenomenal with a waterfall behind it. Players may not be able to afford to play it conservatively if they are trying to catch the leader, so this hole will lead to some fireworks on Sunday.

No. 18, 634 yards, par 5

A long and accurate drive is required for the players who are attacking this hole and playing to get a possible eagle for the longer hitters, or a birdie for the not as long hitters. If the green is not reachable, extreme caution must be taken in laying up as there are four strategically positioned bunkers that are waiting for the errant or poorly calculated layup or attack shot. The undulating green is well protected by bunkers and demands precision with the approach. Should provide for major drama come Sunday.

Contenders

Tony Finau

Finished 9th here last year shooting -18. Man those guys went ballistically low here last year. Super putter when he’s on and long. The 27 year old from Salt Lake City won the Puerto Rico Open last March and is due for a breakout victory.

Justin Thomas

He was my pick last week at the Safeway Open and finished tied 8th shooting 75, 66, 66,67. If it wasn’t for a tough first day and some short missed birdie putts and a short missed par putt on Sunday, the 23 year old, who finished -14, four shots back of winner Brendan Steele, might have won in Napa. He’s the defending champion, so he’ll be in the mix on Sunday.

Ryan Moore

Like Ryan to keep his momentum going from the Ryder Cup where he won his singles match over Lee Westwood and in the week before at the Tour Championship, where he lost to Rory by one stroke in a four hole playoff. The 33 year old from Tacoma, Washington is a heckuva clutch player. He’s won 5 times on tour, and, in 2004, as an amateur and playing for the UNLV team, he won the NCAA title, the U.S. Public Links, the Western Amateur, and the U.S. Amateur. to go along with those credentials, he’s gone back to back here in 2013 and 2014. 

Hideki Matsuyama

I like the fact that Hideki is playing on semi home turf as the 24 year old from Ehime, Japan is familiar with these courses in eastern Asia. Hideki has all the tools to win big on the tour and win majors. He’s a stud. He’s long and accurate, so it’s just a matter of if his putter is on that’ll determine if he’ll win this week.

Patrick Reed

The superstar from the Ryder Cup who finished 3-1-1 there and is 6-1-2 in two Ryder Cups, is iron. He outlasted Rory in a classic at the Ryder Cup outplaying the guy who many consider still the best player in the world. Patrick also won the Barclays in late August, the first leg of the Fed Ex Cup playoffs. It is now called The Northern Trust and will be played at Glen Oaks Club in Westbury, New York Aug. 24-27, and still be the first leg of the playoffs. The Northern Trust Open at Riviera Country Club in southern California will now be called the Genesis Open. That is played in February. Back to Patrick; total stud, really matured a lot and there is greatness written all over this 26 year old from San Antonio, Texas via the University of Georgia and Augusta State University.   

Winner

This is a tough choice because there are some serious studs in this field. But I’m going to go with the hot hand right now, although all these guys are cranking pretty well right now. I’ll take the two time winner at Kuala Lumpur and winner of the John Deere Classic this past July. He took Rory to the brink at the Tour Championship with some hugely clutch play and was super clutch in the singles matches Sunday at Hazeltine National for the U.S. team. 

Ryan Moore

Tomorrow

Week 8 College Football

Saturday

A&M @ Bama, 2:30 PM CT, CBS

Arkansas@Auburn, 5 PM CT, ESPN

 Ole Miss @LSU, 8 PM CT, ESPN

Three SEC epics in week 8 along with some other pretty colossal matchups. Previews and predictions locked, loaded around noon tomorrow. 

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