PGA First Look: CIMB Classic
The PGA First Look is complete with a course preview, odds, salaries, Official World Golf Rankings, and course history.
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Event Preview
It was good to have golf back in the weekly routine, even though I’m still tilting Joaquin Niemann missing the secondary cut on Saturday. Kevin Tway outlasted Ryan Moore and Brandt Snedeker in a three-man playoff to take home his first career victory on the PGA Tour. With the win, he and his father became the tenth father-son duo to each record a win on the PGA Tour. We now head to Malaysia for the CIMB Classic. Before we get into the specifics for the course, you should do yourself a favor and look at the hole by hole breakdown. This course is incredible and always one of my favorites to watch when it comes to live coverage. Speaking of live coverage, the event is set to kick off Wednesday night, so make sure to set your lineups early this week.
TPC Kuala Lumpur has hosted this event since 2010 and has produced an interesting set of winners. We’ve seen bombers and plodders win here and we’ll touch on why here in a bit. Even more intriguing is that Pat Perez has a chance to become the third straight golfer to go back-to-back at this event. Ryan Moore accomplished the feat in 2014 and 2015, followed by Justin Thomas in 2016 and 2017. The course itself is a Par 72 that measures only 7,005 yards. This is incredibly short by PGA Tour standards, especially for a course that features four par fives.
There are only 78 golfers in the field this week, so there will not be a cut. Barring a withdrawal, all golfers are guaranteed to play four rounds, so don’t count your chickens before they hatch. In other words, be ready for wild swings in your currently winning amount right up until the tournament is over. This is routinely one of the easiest courses in rotation each year. Whether you are a bomber or a plodder, you will have plenty of birdie opportunities at this course. I mentioned the four par fives, but the par fours and par threes are scoreable as well. The greens themselves are made of TifEagle Bermuda grass and should run close to 11 on the stimpmeter.
It’s always hot and humid in Malaysia this time of year and it looks like we could see some storms later in the week. If that happens, we will see lift, clean, and place, which will only increase scoring opportunities. While finding fairways is important, this sets up as more of a second shot golf course. I’m giving a big edge to approach play rather than off the tee play this week. I am also focusing on birdie or better percentage and par five scoring. While birdies will be plentiful, there are ten water hazards on the course that will certainly gobble up some golf balls. The only bad thing that I can say about this event is that we don’t get to sweat it through Shot Tracker.
Recent Winners of this Event:Pat Perez (2017), Justin Thomas (2016 & 2015), Ryan Moore (2014 & 2013)
Key Statistics (In Order of Importance)
1) Strokes Gained Approach
2) Birdie or Better %
3) Par 5 Scoring
4) Good Drive %
5) Strokes Gained Putting
Salaries, Odds, and Course History (2013-2017)
| Golfer | DK Salary | FD Salary | FDRFT Salary | OWGR | Odds | DK Odds | FD Odds | FDRFT Odds | Cuts | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Justin Thomas | $11,700 | $13,000 | $19,000 | 4 | 5 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 3/3 | 17 | 1 | 1 | 500 | 500 |
| Ryan Moore | $10,900 | $11,600 | $17,100 | 61 | 13 | 0% | 33% | 0% | 4/4 | 500 | 17 | 10 | 1 | 1 |
| Billy Horschel | $10,700 | $10,400 | $16,900 | 35 | 14 | 0% | 67% | 0% | 2/2 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 37 | 11 |
| Xander Schauffele | $10,400 | $11,800 | $16,700 | 18 | 17 | 0% | -100% | 0% | 1/1 | 3 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Paul Casey | $10,200 | $10,900 | $16,400 | 20 | 18 | 0% | 0% | 0% | 4/4 | 7 | 21 | 24 | 37 | 500 |
| Keegan Bradley | $9,900 | $10,600 | $16,000 | 31 | 23 | -33% | -14% | 0% | 4/4 | 2 | 6 | 47 | 500 | 10 |
| Marc Leishman | $9,800 | $10,400 | $16,200 | 24 | 20 | 14% | 33% | 0% | 4/4 | 500 | 5 | 29 | 39 | 44 |
| Gary Woodland | $9,700 | $10,500 | $16,100 | 38 | 21 | 13% | 13% | 0% | 5/5 | 28 | 56 | 56 | 2 | 2 |
| Emiliano Grillo | $9,500 | $9,000 | $15,500 | 62 | 31 | -44% | 41% | 0% | 2/2 | 54 | 17 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Rafael Cabrera-Bello | $9,300 | $11,100 | $15,600 | 29 | 29 | -10% | -175% | -10% | 2/2 | 10 | 10 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Brandt Snedeker | $9,100 | $10,700 | $15,700 | 45 | 27 | 18% | -50% | 0% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Kyle Stanley | $9,000 | $9,300 | $15,600 | 27 | 29 | 17% | 47% | 0% | 3/3 | 21 | 500 | 500 | 33 | 19 |
| Byeong-Hun An | $8,900 | $9,500 | $15,500 | 47 | 33 | -15% | 12% | -15% | 1/1 | 500 | 39 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Louis Oosthuizen | $8,800 | $10,200 | $15,600 | 36 | 30 | 14% | -9% | -20% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Branden Grace | $8,700 | $10,100 | $14,900 | 46 | 38 | -20% | -50% | 0% | 3/3 | 32 | 33 | 17 | 500 | 500 |
| Kevin Na | $8,600 | $9,400 | $15,100 | 42 | 35 | 0% | 11% | 6% | 4/4 | 44 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 500 |
| J.B. Holmes | $8,500 | $8,600 | $14,700 | 84 | 46 | -24% | 22% | 0% | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 49 | 500 |
| Cameron Smith | $8,400 | $9,700 | $15,500 | 32 | 32 | 22% | 7% | -8% | 3/3 | 5 | 500 | 37 | 5 | 500 |
| Pat Perez | $8,300 | $9,200 | $14,300 | 56 | 50 | -26% | -20% | 8% | 4/4 | 1 | 33 | 63 | 33 | 500 |
| Kevin Tway | $8,200 | $10,000 | $15,200 | 85 | 36 | 15% | -31% | -6% | 1/1 | 32 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Danny Lee | $8,100 | $8,700 | $14,900 | 124 | 42 | 10% | 24% | -6% | 3/3 | 7 | 51 | 500 | 13 | 500 |
| Cheng-Tsung Pan | $8,000 | $8,500 | $14,900 | 102 | 42 | 9% | 31% | -11% | 1/1 | 17 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Charles Howell | $7,900 | $9,100 | $14,400 | 78 | 50 | -9% | -19% | -9% | 4/4 | 51 | 39 | 10 | 500 | 7 |
| Beau Hossler | $7,800 | $8,400 | $14,400 | 80 | 49 | 8% | 29% | 4% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Sam Ryder | $7,700 | $7,800 | $14,200 | 169 | 62 | -8% | 37% | 0% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Peter Uihlein | $7,700 | $8,600 | $14,500 | 66 | 50 | 8% | 15% | -5% | 1/1 | 10 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Chez Reavie | $7,600 | $8,300 | $14,400 | 64 | 51 | 4% | 21% | -13% | 2/2 | 17 | 60 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Thomas Pieters | $7,500 | $9,700 | $13,900 | 69 | 70 | -7% | -100% | -3% | 1/1 | 44 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Bronson Burgoon | $7,500 | $7,600 | $13,300 | 162 | 85 | -39% | 20% | 0% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Jimmy Walker | $7,400 | $8,800 | $13,800 | 74 | 71 | -3% | -29% | -3% | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 6 |
| Si Woo Kim | $7,400 | $8,200 | $13,600 | 57 | 79 | -20% | -3% | -16% | 2/2 | 77 | 10 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Kiradech Aphibarnrat | $7,300 | $9,800 | $13,600 | 37 | 76 | 0% | -129% | -3% | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 3 |
| Kevin Chappell | $7,300 | $8,900 | $13,600 | 63 | 77 | -3% | -43% | -6% | 4/4 | 500 | 45 | 29 | 13 | 25 |
| Stewart Cink | $7,200 | $8,700 | $13,600 | 73 | 78 | -3% | -40% | -13% | 4/4 | 13 | 500 | 17 | 56 | 11 |
| Scott Piercy | $7,200 | $7,500 | $13,300 | 259 | 87 | -21% | 21% | -5% | 3/3 | 63 | 10 | 7 | 500 | 500 |
| Jason Kokrak | $7,100 | $8,400 | $13,600 | 105 | 69 | 19% | 6% | 6% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Austin Cook | $7,100 | $8,100 | $13,400 | 108 | 77 | 8% | 11% | 11% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Abraham Ancer | $7,100 | $8,200 | $13,600 | 125 | 79 | -3% | -6% | -19% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Nick Watney | $7,100 | $7,900 | $12,900 | 129 | 100 | -33% | -23% | -9% | 2/2 | 500 | 500 | 43 | 500 | 35 |
| Joel Dahmen | $7,000 | $7,200 | $12,700 | 191 | 107 | -28% | 20% | -2% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Tom Hoge | $7,000 | $7,400 | $13,000 | 209 | 95 | -18% | 16% | -9% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Brice Garnett | $7,000 | $7,600 | $12,700 | 137 | 107 | -25% | -2% | 0% | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 56 | 500 |
| Troy Merritt | $6,900 | $7,700 | $13,300 | 160 | 86 | 7% | 15% | -3% | 2/2 | 500 | 500 | 21 | 56 | 500 |
| Brian Gay | $6,900 | $7,900 | $13,400 | 112 | 80 | 12% | 3% | -3% | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 47 |
| Anirban Lahiri | $6,900 | $8,500 | $14,000 | 119 | 65 | 35% | 3% | 0% | 5/5 | 10 | 3 | 21 | 52 | 35 |
| Andrew Putnam | $6,900 | $7,800 | $12,900 | 77 | 91 | 0% | 0% | 2% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Keith Mitchell | $6,900 | $7,700 | $12,600 | 141 | 111 | -23% | -13% | 2% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Brendan Steele | $6,800 | $7,900 | $12,900 | 92 | 91 | 8% | -13% | 0% | 4/4 | 13 | 26 | 3 | 500 | 25 |
| Jamie Lovemark | $6,800 | $8,300 | $13,100 | 132 | 89 | 13% | -27% | 0% | 2/2 | 32 | 39 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Ryan Armour | $6,800 | $7,400 | $12,900 | 109 | 103 | -2% | 13% | -11% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Chesson Hadley | $6,800 | $8,000 | $12,900 | 75 | 94 | 4% | -21% | -5% | 2/2 | 500 | 500 | 68 | 65 | 500 |
| Jason Dufner | $6,800 | $7,800 | $12,700 | 72 | 111 | -8% | -21% | -4% | 3/3 | 74 | 500 | 35 | 26 | 500 |
| J.J. Spaun | $6,700 | $7,500 | $12,900 | 143 | 93 | 15% | 13% | -2% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| James Hahn | $6,700 | $7,600 | $12,400 | 120 | 117 | -4% | -12% | 2% | 4/4 | 28 | 9 | 6 | 56 | 500 |
| Brian Stuard | $6,700 | $7,500 | $12,200 | 268 | 137 | -13% | -15% | -2% | 2/2 | 500 | 66 | 500 | 13 | 500 |
| Whee Kim | $6,700 | $7,300 | $12,300 | 113 | 134 | -11% | 3% | -2% | 1/1 | 39 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Ollie Schniederjans | $6,700 | $7,400 | $12,200 | 133 | 144 | -15% | -9% | -3% | 1/1 | 23 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Scott Stallings | $6,600 | $7,500 | $12,700 | 164 | 111 | 9% | -2% | -6% | 3/3 | 39 | 500 | 500 | 19 | 47 |
| Ryan Palmer | $6,600 | $7,900 | $12,500 | 106 | 126 | 3% | -44% | -2% | 1/1 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 53 |
| Ted Potter | $6,600 | $7,300 | $12,200 | 100 | 133 | 0% | 5% | 2% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Sang-hyun Park | $6,600 | $7,300 | $12,100 | 121 | 154 | -7% | -2% | 0% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Michael Kim | $6,600 | $7,100 | $11,900 | 226 | 171 | -10% | 4% | 0% | 1/1 | 28 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Scott Vincent | $6,500 | $7,000 | $12,400 | 138 | 129 | 10% | 19% | -2% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Shubhankar Sharma | $6,500 | $7,800 | $11,900 | 116 | 176 | -3% | -51% | -2% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Justin Harding | $6,500 | $7,400 | $11,700 | 93 | 185 | -5% | -18% | 1% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Sihwan Kim | $6,500 | $7,000 | $11,700 | 158 | 191 | -8% | 3% | -1% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Ben Leong | $6,500 | $7,000 | $10,700 | 360 | 350 | -17% | -6% | 0% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Kelly Kraft | $6,400 | $7,100 | $11,500 | 157 | 214 | -1% | -3% | 1% | 1/1 | 48 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| John Catlin | $6,400 | $7,000 | $12,000 | 110 | 156 | 7% | 10% | 0% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Gaganjeet Bhullar | $6,400 | $7,000 | $11,800 | 134 | 185 | 3% | 6% | 0% | 2/2 | 500 | 56 | 500 | 500 | 33 |
| Ernie Els | $6,400 | $7,100 | $11,000 | 642 | 281 | -4% | -6% | 0% | 3/3 | 500 | 72 | 64 | 500 | 47 |
| Berry Henson | $6,400 | $7,000 | $10,900 | 339 | 318 | -7% | -4% | 0% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Davis Love | $6,300 | $7,400 | $11,000 | 1064 | 290 | 1% | -29% | -1% | 2/2 | 28 | 500 | 500 | 8 | 500 |
| Jon Curran | $6,300 | $7,000 | $10,400 | 397 | -3% | -7% | 0% | 2/2 | 500 | 56 | 53 | 500 | 500 | |
| Satoshi Kodaira | $6,300 | $7,200 | $11,600 | 49 | 224 | 4% | -9% | -1% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Rahil Gangjee | $6,300 | $7,000 | $10,400 | 367 | 508 | -4% | -9% | -1% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Minchel Choi | $6,300 | $7,200 | $10,300 | 350 | 571 | -5% | -20% | 0% | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
| Kim Leun-Kwang | $6,300 | $7,000 | 1021 | -7% | -11% | #VALUE! | 0/0 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 | 500 |
Color Coding
Course history in BLUE indicates a top ten finish.
Course history in GREEN indicates a top 25 finish.
Course history in YELLOW indicates a made cut with a finish outside of the top 25.
Course history in RED indicates a missed cut.
Legend
| Term | Description |
|---|---|
| Site Odds | The percentage differential between a golfer’s salary rank and odds rank. The higher the %, the better. |
| OWGR | Official World Golf Ranking |
| Cuts | Cut record of each golfer at this course in the last five seasons. |
| 2013 – 2017 Columns | Course history at this event in the last five seasons. |