Published July 17, 2008 on October 10, 2018

Asian Stars Looking Forward for a Good Outing at the CIMB Classic

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Indian star Gaganjeet Bhullar is confident he can contend at the US$7 million CIMB Classic which starts on Thursday.

The 30-year-old is enjoying a superb season on the Asian Tour where he won his ninth title in August and currently sits in fifth place on the Habitat for Humanity Standings.

Making his fourth appearance at the CIMB Classic, Bhullar believes his form is peaking at the right time as he prepares to challenge for honours at the TPC Kuala Lumpur, West Course.

“I know this is definitely my favourite tournament of the year. We all look forward to playing this tournament. It’s a great opportunity for us and really excited, really happy to be back here. The golf course is in a great shape. I mean, this year it’s got a really strong field, so it’s going to be really, really stiff competition.

“I’ve been playing quite consistent and quite well this year. The victory in Fiji gave me a lot of confidence. Yes, my best result at the CIMB Classic was at Mines Golf & Country Club, but I think the best is yet to come. I’ve played on this golf course quite a few times and anything is possible,” said Bhullar.

Bhullar will be among four Indians this week which includes former Asian Tour number one Anirban Lahiri, who finished tied third in the showpiece in 2016, Shubhankar Sharma and Rahil Gangjee.

Sanghyun Park of Korea ranked second on the Habitat for Humanity Standings, will also feature in the event alongside defending champion Pat Perez and two-time CIMB Classic champion Justin Thomas.

Bhullar admits he was in awe of the PGA Tour players when he played in the 2012, 2013 and 2016 editions but he feels his game has improved tremendously ahead of the ninth staging of the CIMB Classic.

Lahiri, the 2015 Asian Tour number one, raced against time to travel to Malaysia from the United States after receiving news on Monday that he had qualified for the event after Andrew Landry had withdrawn.

John Catlin, the first player to win three times on the Asian Tour in 2018, will play in his first PGA TOUR event. The American, who rose from the Asian Development Tour (ADT) ranks will enter the tournament with high confidence after winning on Sunday in Chinese Taipei.

Malaysia’s Ben Leong said he was lucky to be part of the elite field after Gavin Green withdrew from the tournament. As the second highest ranked Malaysian in the world, Leong was next in line to qualify for the event.

“It’s great.  It’s kind of a shock definitely. Never expected to be here sitting getting interviewed definitely.  I mean, golf course looking great.  Everything superb and just a bit of weather a bit bothering, but all in all it’s good. It’s good to be back.  It’s good to be playing on the PGA TOUR.  And yeah, definitely I say a big thank you to Gavin withdrew and gave me this chance.  I guess as a Malaysian golfer, I think we need to learn from Gavin definitely because that’s what you call looking at the bigger picture. Definitely wish him well and can’t wait to team up with him in the World Cup,” said Leong.