CIMB Classic: Justin Thomas favored for a third title

The PGA Tour begins its Asian swing this week with the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Justin Thomas will be looking for a third consecutive title at TPC Kuala Lumpur and opens as the +400 favorite.

Hideki Matsuyama at +800 and Paul Casey at +1000 are the only other players better than 25-1 to claim the title.

The course is very easy by Tour standards. It's barely 7,000 yards for a par 72, and unless weather plays a factor, expect around 20-under par to win here.

The 78-player field is fairly weak, with the first 60 places in the field going by order of finish in the 2017 FedEx Cup. Most of the top players turn down the bid, so it's usually a lot of guys ranked from 50-110 who will get a check in the no-cut event. The other 18 players come from the Asian Order of Merit and sponsor exemptions.

Since becoming an official PGA tournament four years ago, only Thomas and Ryan Moore have won here, so it's been guys near the top of the betting board who have claimed the title.

That's where I'll be focusing my attention this week as we take a look at my card below.

I'll be back later in the week to break down the plays.

Joshua has spent the last five years writing about sports and the last 10 years betting them, mostly on golf. He's one of approximately five people who will watch the PGA over the NFL in November. Follow him on Twitter @JoshuaPerry22

Photo: © Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

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