Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: CIMB Group announced today an early cast of international golfing stars that have committed to play at this year’s CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur from 20-23 October. The commitments received to date comprise a riveting line-up of Major champions, Ryder Cup team members, past CIMB Classic champions and top-ranked players from the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) and FedExCup.
Leading the early commitments is a trio of players in the top-15 of the OWGR: Patrick Reed (8th), current leader in the FedExCup Playoffs and member of the US Team in the Ryder Cup, will join two-time PGA TOUR 2015/16 season winner Adam Scott (6th). They will be joined by nine-time PGA TOUR winner and Ryder Cup European team veteran Sergio Garcia (12th) and a host of other international stars this October.
Other top golfers include Englishmen Ian Poulter and Paul Casey, World No. 16 Hideki Matsuyama, Major champions Keegan Bradley and Ernie Els, as well as 23 year-old defending champion Justin Thomas, who earned his first PGA TOUR victory at last year’s CIMB Classic.
"As the only official PGA TOUR FedExCup tournament in Southeast Asia, the CIMB Classic has been defined by its star power, attracting the globe’s golfing luminaries to tee-off here. This exciting early line-up is proof that the CIMB Classic continues to be an important stop in the PGA TOUR calendar," said Tengku Dato’ Sri Zafrul Aziz, Group Chief Executive, CIMB Group. "We expect a stellar field as we approach the commitment deadline, and fans the world over will be treated to world-class golf at TPC Kuala Lumpur this October."
Making his fourth consecutive start at the CIMB Classic is American Patrick Reed, who won The Barclays in August to take the lead in the FedExCup Playoffs. The fiery American had his best finish at the CIMB Classic last year when he tied for 10th. Reed, who represented America in the Olympics and will play on the U.S. Ryder Cup team, is No. 8 in the world and one of the most consistent players this season with 11 top-10 finishes so far.
Also returning to the CIMB Classic after a runner-up finish to Justin Thomas last year is former World No. 1 Adam Scott. The Aussie won the Masters in 2013 and is the owner of 13 PGA TOUR victories. The highlight of the season for Scott was his back-to-back victories at The Honda Classic and the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship early in the year, moving him to the top of the FedExCup rankings which he held for 10 weeks. Scott ranks sixth in the OWGR and is currently fifth in the FedExCup Playoffs going into the BMW Championship.
Joining Scott and Reed is nine-time PGA TOUR winner and World No. 12 Sergio Garcia. Garcia won the AT&T Byron Nelson earlier this year to go along with three other top-10s. He will play in his eighth Ryder Cup for the European Team this fall, where he has a sterling record of 18-9-5. This is Garcia’s fourth consecutive year playing in the CIMB Classic, his best finish a tie for second in 2014.
While he is unable to play in the Ryder Cup, European Team Vice-Captain Ian Poulter will be in the field at the CIMB Classic. Poulter will be making his first start in the CIMB Classic and will be looking to earn his first PGA TOUR victory since 2012; he has two wins in his career. Fellow Englishman Paul Casey, who finished second at the Deutsche Bank Championship last week and vaulting into the FedExCup Playoffs top-10, will be making his second appearance at the CIMB Classic; he finished T24 last year.
CIMB Classic, with a purse of USD7 million, is part of the PGA TOUR’s season-long FedExCup competition and is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Professional Golf Association of Malaysia. Into its seventh year, the CIMB Classic 2016 will feature a 78-player elite field, comprising 60 from the PGA TOUR, 10 from the Asian Tour and eight sponsor’s exemptions. Malaysia will be represented by the winner of the SapuraKencana National Classic and the highest ranked Malaysian golfer in the OWGR as at 11 October 2016 at the tournament. The PGA TOUR player commitment deadline for the tournament is 21 September 2016.
-www.cimbclassic.com
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