The PGA Tour shifts to Asia this week when the 2018 edition of the CIMB Classic gets underway at TPC Kuala Lumpur in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. When it comes to odds lists, Justin Thomas is the undisputed favorite to go all the way.
At Sportsbook, Thomas is the +500 favorite, with Billy Horschel (+1400), Ryan Moore (+1600), Xander Schauffele (+1600), Paul Casey (+2000), Gary Woodland (+2200), Marc Leishman (+2200), Keegan Bradley (+2500), Cameron Smith (+2800) and Brandt Snedeker (+3000) rounding out the top 10.
Plenty at stake in Kuala Lumpur
The event debuted in 2010 and moved to its current setup in 2013. It’s the first tournament ever sanctioned by the PGA Tour in Southeast Asia and is an official money event on the Asian Tour. In 2013, the field was increased to 78 players. The Sportsbook of the CIMB Classic earns a trip to the Masters, and the purse is $7 million – one of the highest in East Asia. No Asian has ever won the CIMB Classic.
The field boasts seven major champions, including World Golf Hall of Famers Ernie Els and Davis Love III. Ten berths are reserved for leading Asian Tour players, with a local exemption made for Malaysian pro Kim Leun Kwang after Hideki Matsuyama withdrew. Thomas heads into the CIMB Classic on a heater, as the American is a two-time champion of the tournament and is coming off a stellar individual showing at the Ryder Cup in which he went 4-1. Thomas will be looking to win his third CIMB title in four visits.
Perez is looking to pull off another surprise win
Last year, Pat Perez continued his career renaissance by picking up his second victory in 11 months here, building a seven-shot advantage entering Sunday before winning by four strokes over Keegan Bradley. Perez ended the final day by posting a 3-under-par 69. The 41-year-old is +5500 to go back to back in Malaysia.
The course, a 7,005-yard par 72, opened 28 years ago and hosts events for the PGA Tour, European Tour and the LPGA. The track was given a thorough redesign in 2008 to get up to PGA Tour standards. Bo Van Pelt’s 261 in 2011 remains the 72-hole record, while Thomas (second round in 2015) and Nick Watney (fourth round in 2012) hold the 18-hole record of 61.
Here’s a look at the shop’s full list of odds:
- Justin Thomas +500
- Billy Horschel +1400
- Ryan Moore +1600
- Xander Schaufflele +1600
- Paul Casey +2000
- Gary Woodland +2200
- Marc Leishman +2200
- Keegan Bradley +2500
- Brandt Snedeker +3000
- Cameron Smith +2800
- Byeong Hun An +3000
- Emiliano Grillo +3500
- Kyle Stanley +3500
- Louis Oosthuizen +3500
- Rafael Cabrera Bello +3300
- Branden Grace +4000
- C.T. Pan +4000
- Danny Lee +4000
- Kevin Na +4000
- Kevin Tway +4000
- Beau Hossler +5000
- Charles Howell III +5500
- Chez Reavie +5500
- J.B. Holmes +5500
- Pat Perez +5500
- Peter Uihlein +5500
- Anirban Lahiri +6600
- Kiradech Aphibarnrat +6600
- Sam Ryder +6600
- Si Woo Kim +6600
- Thomas Pieters +6600
- Jason Kokrak +10000
- Jimmy Walker +10000
- Abraham Ancer +8000
- Austin Cook +8000
- Brian Gay +8000
- Jhonattan Vegas +8000
- Kevin Chappell +8000
- Stewart Cink +8000
- Bronson Burgoon +10000
- J.J. Spaun +8000
- Troy Merritt +8000
- Andrew Putnam +10000
- Brendan Steele +10000
- Chesson Hadley +10000
- Jamie Lovemark +10000
- Jason Dufner +10000
- Nick Watney +10000
- Scott Piercy +10000
- Tom Hoge +10000
- Brice Garnett +12500
- James Hahn +12500
- Joel Dahmen +12500
- Keith Mitchell +12500
- Ryan Armour +12500
- Scott Stallings +12500
- Michael Kim +15000
- Ollie Schniederjans +15000
- Ryan Palmer +15000
- Scott Vincent +15000
- Shubhankar Sharma +15000
- Ted Potter Jr. +15000
- Whee Kim +15000
- Brian Stuard +17500
- John Catlin +17500
- Gaganjeet Bhullar +20000
- Satoshi Kodaira +20000
- Sihwan Kim +20000
- Justin Harding +25000
- Kelly Kraft +25000
- Sang Hyun Park +25000
- Davis Love III +30000
- Ernie Els +35000
- Berry Henson +40000
- Ben Leong +50000
- Jon Curran +50000
- Minchel Choi +50000
- Rahil Gangjee +50000
- Kim Leun-Kwang +75000
