Players and caddies have made the journey from the Middle East to Malaysia for this week's Maybank Championship at Saujana Golf Resort near Kuala Lumpur.
With temperatures and humdity high and the difficult challenge of bermuda grass and grainy greens, who are you going to put in your Fantasy teams this week? Our resident statistics guru has picked three players for consideration on yourDaily Fantasy Teamthis week in South Africa.
Pick of the favourites: Anirban Lahiri
View player profile
Anirban Lahiri has endured an up and down 24 months on Tour, dating back to his two European Tour wins early in 2015. Since then, his form has been inconsistent but the Indian appears to be settled and back in form arriving in Malaysia. Having won his first European Tour title in Malaysia two years ago, he will fancy his chances this week at Saujana Golf Resort. The 29 year arrives on the back of two straight top 25 finishes, including a top 20 in Dubai last week and hasn't missed a cut since before The Open Championship last year. In his last start in Malaysia he led after 54 holes before finishing third, behind only Justin Thomas and Hideki Matsuyama. With seven wins and 36 top tens since 2011, Lahiri has plenty of talent to get back into the winner's circle and he appears ready to succeed again based on recent form.
Form horse: Thomas Aiken
View player profile
Thomas Aiken has come out of the blocks quickly in 2017, notching three top five finishes in his five starts so far. Known as one of the best iron players on Tour, Aiken led the Tour in Greens in Regulation last season, finding the putting surface at a rate of more than 79 percent. Amazingly, he hit more Greens In Regulation from off the fairway (67.6 percent) than the average Tour pro hit from anywhere (66.9). Putting has always been Aiken's Achilles heel but his hard work in the off-season appears to be paying off. He has improved his putting numbers by over a shot a round and improved his Putts per GIR average from 1.85 to 1.78. Having won an Asian Tour co-sanctioned event in India in 2013, he is familiar with these type of surroundings and sure to feature high on the leaderboard again this week.
Wildcard: Miguel Tabuena
View player profile
Young Miguel Tabuena is making a name for himself on the Asian Tour and could be the next player, such as Jeunghun Wang, Soomin Lee and Haotong Li, to break through on the European Tour. The 22 year old finished runner up at this event last year and arrives on the back of a top three finish at the Leopalace21 Myanmar Open, where he was the only player to break 70 in each round. With a top 10 in his last European Tour start in this part of the world, at the Kings Cup presented by PTT Group in July, Tabuena could add value in your Fantasy squad this week. He finished top five on the Asian Tour order of merit last year and has already has nine professional wins to his name.
Those are our picks, now it’s time to make yours. Whether you are playing theFantasy Race to Dubaior our newDaily Fantasy Game, be sure to make your picks before Wednesday night. Good luck!
