This article is part of our FantasyDraft PGA series.
CIMB Classic
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
TPC Kuala Lumpur - West Course - Par 72 - 7,005 yards
Field - 78 Entrants
Purse - $7M
The Preview
The new golf season is underway, and Brendan Steele claimed victory at the season-opening Safeway Open for the second year in a row. Speaking of back-to-back winners, Malaysia's CIMB Classic has been dominated by reigning FedExCup champion Justin Thomas the past couple seasons. The field at TPC Kuala Lumpur includes just 78 entrants, and the tournament's no-cut format invites more risk than usual in daily lineups. At just 7,005 yards the West Course provides ample birdie opportunities as the bombers find themselves hitting wedges into many greens, and shorter hitters may gain their advantage by finding fairways without intimidating yardages remaining. Two key statistics to focus on will be SG: Tee-to-Green and birdie-or-better percentage, as the best ball-strikers in the field normally own the upper hand.
Past Champions
2016 - Justin Thomas
2015 - Justin Thomas
2014 - Ryan Moore
2013 - Ryan Moore
2012 - Nick Watney
2011 - Bo Van Pelt
2010 - Ben Crane
FantasyDraft Value Picks - based on $100,000 salary cap
Cream of the Crop
Justin Thomas - $21,000
It wouldn't be all that shocking if Thomas' $21,000 price tag is the highest we see this season, and for good reason, as the 2016-17 Player of the Year looks to secure his third consecutive victory at TPC Kuala Lumpur. Without a cut in Malaysia this week, gamers will be able to pair Thomas with a few punt plays while avoiding much of the usual risk that comes with a "studs and duds" approach. Thomas should be in line for plenty of scoring opportunities on a short track after ranking eighth in driving distance and first in par-breakers this past season.
Paul Casey - $18,400
Priced nearly $3,000 less than Thomas, Casey is a proven ball-striker who last season ranked third on Tour in GIR percentage, second in SG: Approach and seventh in SG: Tee-to-Green. He also finished seventh in scrambling and 11th in total driving, while also posting three top-5s over his last four starts. The fact that Casey has never finished top-20 in three tries at Kuala Lumpur could somewhat reduce his potential ownership, but it's hard to pass on such a solid all-around player.
Glue Guys
Grayson Murray - $15,200
Murray most recently finished top-10 at the Safeway Open, where he ranked fifth among the field in driving distance and 11th in SG: Approach. He will be making his career debut at Kuala Lumpur this week, and much like Thomas, Murray's distance off the tee should lead to plenty of wedges into greens and additional birdie chances if he gets the putter rolling.
Jamie Lovemark - $14,500
Lovemark got off to a hot start at last week's Safeway Open with a five-under 67 during his first round, but a trio of double bogeys throughout his final 54 holes sent him outside of the top-40. He still managed to average four birdies per round, and should have no problem adding to that mark in Malaysia. Lovemark will be one of the longest hitters in the field, and he also ranked 25th on Tour in proximity from 100-125 yards last season.
Bargain Bin
Sung Kang - $13,200
Kang, who finished T21 at the 2016 CIMB Classic, ranked top-70 on Tour in SG: Off-the-Tee, SG: Approach, SG: Putting and birdie average last season. He'll be looking to move back inside of the Top 100 in the Official World Golf Ranking, and he has missed just three cuts since mid-March.
Whee Kim - $12,700
Kim struggled towards the latter portion of the 2016-17 season, but posted results of T13-T14-T27 in his three starts throughout the fall series last year. He made the cut at the Safeway Open, where he racked up 15 birdies in four rounds. Kim owns one of the better short games in this week's field, as he ranked 29th in scrambling and top-10 in putting from 10-20 feet last season.
