Maybank Championship
Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Course: Saujana G&CC
Yardage: 7,186
Par: 72
Tournament Preview
Saujana Golf and Country Club is hosting the Maybank Championship for the second year in a row. The tight fairways are lined with palm trees and quite undulating, while he greens are equally undulating and grainy. Water and sand can be found throughout -- as well as monkeys and snakes. Without much course history to pull from, recent form and ball striking will be top priority, followed by last year's results. This is the only official European Tour event played in Malaysia, so look for the locals to make the most of it.
Key Stats to Winning at Saujana G&CC
Greens in regulation
Driving Accuracy
Past Champions
2017 - Fabrizio Zanotti
2016 - Marcus Fraser
2015 - Anirban Lahiri
2014 - Lee Westwood
2013 - Kiradech Aphibarnrat
DraftKings Picks (with odds)
Alexander Levy, $11,200 - (14/1)
Levy has started 2018 red hot: he was 7th in Abu Dhabi and 4th in Dubai. His iron play is really in a good place right now, and he is hitting almost 70 percent of greens in regulation over the last two tournaments. Levy had a good showing at Maybank last year, finishing solo fourth. I anticipate the good momentum to continue this week on a course he has already found favorable.
Paul Peterson, $8,800 - (45/1)
Peterson is another player in this week's tournament that is off to a great start. He finished T8 at Joburg, and prior to that, posted a T22 and T2 to start the season. He is a good ball striker and was ranked 20th on Tour last year in driving accuracy. Peterson also hit over 68 percent GIR last season. His recent form along with his T29 finish last year in this event provides hope for a strong showing this week from the American.
Thomas Detry, $8,700 - (40/1)
The young bomber from Belgium will be making his first start at Maybank, and I believe it will go well. He enters the tournament in good form, finishing T22 at Dubai and T9 at Abu Dhabi. Although he has not played this event before, he possesses the skills to win. In his five starts this season he is hitting over 64 percent of fairways and 70 percent of GIR. His moment in the winner's circle appears to be coming soon.
Sam Brazel, $6,900 - (75/1)
Brazel is my favorite pick at the bottom price tier. He is priced much too low given his odds of winning, which is something to take advantage of if you are searching for a player to include in the lower range. Brazel has made the cut in all six tournaments he has played this season, and he had his highest finish last week, a T22 in Dubai. He is hitting 69 percent of GIR and over 61 percent of fairways. Brazel has shown he can play this course, as he finished T12 at Maybank last year.
