After a two-week break, the regular European Tour returns with a US$2 million co-sanctioned event by the Asian Tour - the Malaysian Open at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
The field is not exactly choc-full of stars with the highest-ranked players on show being Thongchai Jaidee, who is bidding to win this for the third time after victories in 2004 and 2005, and Korea's K.J. Choi, who is another with winning form in Malaysia - last autumn's Johor Open. They are joined by former Ryder Cup hero Darren Clarke, who is bidding to continue his solid start to 2010, having recorded top-10's in India and South Africa, and defending champion (albeit on a different course) Anthony Kang of the United States.
Ross' Three Off The Tee:-
Thongchai Jaidee @ 9/1 bet365 (10/1 Expekt)
Jaidee is a bit of a legend in this part of the world and he can send his hordes of fans into raptures by winning this event for the third time. He was also runner-up in the 2006 edition here so he knows the track inside out - unlike some of the Europeans competing - and is in the form of his life. After his third place finish in the Omega Dubai Desert Classic against a much better field than he encounters this week, it took an inspired performance by the eventual winner Ian Poulter to knock him out of the Accenture Match Play, and he's now up to 44 in the world as a result. The reason? Well, a new putting device has worked the oracle - he is ranked 6th in Putts Per Round in 2010 (27.7 av.) - while a new fitness regime has also helped. He's certainly looking the part and although odds of 9/1 might look on the skinny side too, I wouldn't want to be laying him at anything bigger than 7/1.
K.J. Choi @ 16/1 Victor Chandler
While the chunk of my bet is on Jaidee, the Korean is also crying out to be backed at 16/1 in a field which lacks real strength in depth. He's no doubt getting a fat cheque for just turning up this week but he's a feisty character who won't want to disappoint his legion of fans and form figures of 39-15-27-21-20 on the ultra-competitive PGA Tour this year suggest his A-game is not that far away. If he finishes in the frame as I'd expect him too, he will not only return a small profit but will also cover the win only bet on Jaidee.
Rick Kulacz @ 50/1 Ladbrokes
The Aussie rookie has been playing some sublime golf in 2010, posting high finishes in the Africa Open (4th), the Abu Dhabi Championship (21st) and last time out in the Avantha Masters (14th). Sooner rather than later he's going to drop his European Tour maiden tag - he has already won on the Asian Tour, last summer's Selangor Masters in Malaysia - and this week's field affords him a wonderful opportunity to at least make the frame and thus reward each-way backers with a healthy profit.
Bubbling Under: Scott Strange (55/1 Skybet)
Another Aussie with winning form in this part of the world - last year’s China Open, his second European Tour success - and he also played well here in 2006 when finishing tied-18th.
Punters Beware: Chris Wood
Last year’s European Tour rookie of the year is making his course debut and might wilt in the sauna-like conditions, while it could take him a couple of rounds to get used to the grain of the greens, which are not like anything else in Europe
Recommended Bets:
Thongchai Jaidee 3pts 9/1 bet365
K.J. Choi 1pt each-way @ 16/1 Victor Chandler
Rick Kulacz 0.5pt each-way @ 50/1 Ladbrokes