A titanic battle looms
The quality of the field this week makes for what should be an exciting showdown
TWO of the hottest golfers on the planet over the past 12 months will face-off at the US$7mil CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur this week, promising a showdown for the ages and an opportunity for redemption.
Two-time defending champion Justin Thomas of the United States, now the world No. 4, returns to Malaysia in red-hot form for the PGA Tour’s only tournament in Southeast Asia where his growing list of achievements now include the FedExCup, a first major title, six career PGA Tour wins and most recently a first taste of victory at the Presidents Cup where he featured for Team USA last week.
In the blue corner, Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama will be teeing up at the CIMB Classic with every intention of winning the prestigious tournament which he has come close on several occasions since making his debut here in 2013.
The tenacious Japanese star finished T5 in 2015 and was runner-up to Thomas 12 months ago as well.
However, the world No. 3 has achieved six victories over the last year which include two World Golf Championships tournaments in China and United States to rise to the top echelons of the professional game.
Matsuyama, 25, was however on the receiving end along with Team International at the Presidents Cup where the Americans triumphed 19-11 at Liberty National.
The Japanese ace lost in his foursomes and four-ball match on the second and third days against Thomas and Rickie Fowler but redeemed himself with a 3 & 1 win over the talented American in the singles.
The promise of a titanic ThomasMatsuyama duel at TPC Kuala Lumpur will certainly provide the backdrop to another great week of golf as the CIMB Classic celebrates its eighth edition by featuring two players from the world’s top-five for the first time in its growing history.
Next week’s showpiece will feature nine Major champions, 10 Presidents Cup team members, 15 players from the top-50 of the Official World Golf Ranking and 18 winners from the recent PGA Tour’s 2016-17 season.
In addition, the top-10 players from the Asian Tour Order of Merit, led by Malaysia’s very own rising star Gavin Green, and eight other sponsor’s exemptions who include China’s Li Haotong, who finished third at the Open Championship, and big-hitting Belgian Thomas Pieters will be out to chase for the US$1.26 million top cheque and 500 FedExCup points.
Other leading names teeing up at TPC Kuala Lumpur include world No. 15 Paul Casey of England, 19th-ranked Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain, Europe’s Ryder Cup stalwart Ian Poulter, 2011 Masters Tournament winner Charl Schwartzel, this season’s Players Championship winner Si Woo Kim of South Korea and South African star Branden Grace, who wrote golfing history at the British Open by becoming the first man to shoot a 62 in a major in July.
Veteran stars Ernie Els of South Africa and American Davis Love III, who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame last week, will also lend their star credentials.
CIMB Group chief executive Tengku Datuk Sri Zafrul Aziz said: “We are pleased to once again welcome a truly world-class line-up of golfers at this year’s CIMB Classic, which will feature established PGA Tour champions, veteran stars and emerging young talents.
“Without a doubt, our defending champion Justin will be the hot favourite as he is enjoying a truly spectacular year which began with a successful CIMB Classic defence.
“The strong representation of international golfers which includes 15 players from within the top-50 of the Official World Golf Ranking reinforces the CIMB Classic’s prestige and stature as the leading golf tournament in the Asean region.”
Thomas is looking forward to his return to the CIMB Classic, which sparked his rise in on the PGA Tour after notching his first win in Malaysia two years ago.
“It was obviously special being able to go back to defend last year. Having won my first PGA Tour title in Malaysia (in 2015), it’s got a special place in my heart. To go back-to- back last year was awesome. It definitely got my 2016-17 season off to a good start.
“I somehow have a comforting feeling out there and I seem to do all right. The scores are really low over there.
“There’s not much wind and I think why I have played so well over there is because I have a lot of wedges and I feel that my wedge game is good. It just seems to be a place where I play well.”