The traditional three-week Asian swing of the PGA Tour schedule begins this week with the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It will be a limited field with only 78 golfers set to make the trip overseas to compete. We took the time to break down the list of contenders in an effort to identify the picks most likely to come out on top this week. Here is a look at the eight best bets to win the CIMB Classic:
Event Details
Event: CIMB Classic
Category: PGA
Date: October 11-14, 2018
Location: TPC Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Past Five Winners
2017: Pat Perez -24
2016: Justin Thomas -23
2015: Justin Thomas -26
2014: Ryan Moore -17
2013: Ryan Moore -14
Justin Thomas +450
Thomas is listed as the obvious sports betting favorite to win in Malaysia this week. After all, he’s won this event in two of the previous three years and he very well could have made it three wins in a row at this tournament if it wasn’t for the toll that fatigue took on him last season. Thomas is well rested this time around and he is definitely in excellent form after winning five of his last 29 starts. The odds aren’t great but Thomas is the closest thing there is to a lock to win the CIMB Classic.
Billy Horschel +1550
Horschel put on an absolute show during the playoffs with three top-three finishes. The problem was that he couldn’t clinch a win in each of those starts and he struggled with a sinus infection throughout a poor performance at the Dell Technologies Championship. Horschel is certainly feeling better physically now and has all of the tools to thrive in Malaysia this week. At +1550 odds, Horschel is definitely a strong value bet to win the CIMB Classic.
Ryan Moore +1415
Moore is the second two-time CIMB Classic winner to appear on this list. He’s also finished in the top-20 in another two appearances at this event since those back-to-back victories in 2013 and 2014. With eight top-15 results to his name in 2018, Moore should be a lock to contend in Malaysia. He’s also a decent value pick at +1415 odds to win outright.
Xander Schauffele +1550
Schauffele is in excellent form after finishing the playoffs with a T-3rd at Aronimink and a T-7th in his title defense at East Lake. Now he gets the chance to put himself over the top at TPC Kuala Lumpur, where he placed third when he made his CIMB Classic debut a year ago. Schauffele has the skill set to contend with past champions like Thomas and Moore so it won’t be a surprise if he pulls out the outright victory this week.
Paul Casey +1550
Casey was dealing with a sore back a couple of weeks ago but he appears to be over that injury and he’s in decent shape heading in to this tournament. He’s improved his overall performances in each of his four starts at this course, including a T-7th in this event a year ago. What’s in store for his fifth CIMB Classic appearance? At +1550 odds to win outright, it might be worth it to take a flyer on Casey to win this week.
Marc Leishman +1850
Leishmann seemed to fade down the stretch last season. However, he’s had some time off and if he’s feeling good this week he has the talent to contend. Leishmann finished fifth in his last trip to Kuala Lumpur and he’s averaged a 68.70 in his last 10 rounds at this course. All of the numbers suggest that Leishmann will be in the mix of contenders this week. At +1850 odds, he might be worth taking a chance on.
Danny Lee +4050
Our final pick on this list is also an excellent potential sleeper. The veteran Korean appears primed for a strong run on the Asian swing of the schedule after posting some strong performances over the past couple of months. With a pair of top-15 finishes in Malaysia to his name already, including a T-7th here a year ago, Lee should be among the top contenders in the CIMB Classic. If you are looking for a strong sleeper pick to win at long odds, consider Lee the ideal option that checks off all of the boxes.
Odds To Win 2018 CIMB Classic
Justin Thomas +450
Ryan Moore +1415
Xander Schauffele +1550
Paul Casey +1550
Billy Horschel +1550
Marc Leishman +1850
Keegan Bradley +2050
Gary Woodland +2050
Rafa Cabrera Bello +2550
Kyle Stanley +2850
Brandt Snedeker +2850
Louis Oosthuizen +2850
Cameron Smith +2850
Emiliano Grillo +3250
Byeong Hun An +3250
Kevin Na +3550
Kevin Tway +3550
Branden Grace +4050
Danny Lee +4050
CT Pan +4050
Peter Uihlein +4550
Beau Hossler +5050
Chez Reavie +5050
Charles Howell III +5050
JB Holmes +5050
Sam Ryder +5500
Thomas Pieters +6050
Pat Perez +6550
Kiradech Aphibarnrat +7050
Stewart Cink +7550
