CIMB Classic preview, picks and analysis

HE PGA Tour makes its annual trip to Kuala Lumpur, with Ryan Moore seeking to win the CIMB Classic for an unprecedented third successive time. That victory 12 months ago marked the start of a good year for the American. He may have an idiosyncratic golf swing, with plenty of moving parts, but he is a magnificent ball striker, and he loves this part of the world, and is in decent form heading back there.

He does things very much his own way, dropping the club down on the inside on his downswing and is one of the few PGA Tour players who refuses to wear a glove on his left hand. Mind you, Fred Couples didn't wear one either, and he didn't do too badly, did he?

The humidity in Kuala Lumpur is heavy duty, so you can be fairly sure that the winner will NOT be overweight, but will instead be somebody without any spare flesh. And that means the conditions are made for Hideki Matsuyama, of Japan.

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Ryan Moore has a superb record at the CIMB Classic

Matsuyama is destined to become the best golfer that Asia has ever produced but he would be the first to admit that he needs to learn how to win more tournaments. He has the game to win anywhere and the harder the course, the better he looks. Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club is certainly not one of the harder courses these guys will ever play, but Matsuyama is capable of stringing terrific runs of birdies together and if he can get his putter working early on then it could be a case of 'catch me if you can'.

Ryo Ishikawa, his fellow Japanese golfer, would love to step out of Matsuyama's shadow. It is not to long ago that he was regarded as a possible major winner but he has failed to live up to expectations. He is an impatient young man who is extremely hard on himself when things don't go well. Until such time as he can get his mental approach right, you feel that Ishikawa may never live up to his potential. The same thing happened to Danny Lee, but he has finally made the breakthrough, and it could signal the start of many more victories for a golfer who won on the European Tour as an 18-year-old amateur and then fell off a cliff.

Gary Woodland, who was runner-up 12 months ago, is another who has failed to live up to his potential. He hits the ball a country mile - usually straight - and strikes rifle-straight iron shots, time and time again. His one weakness is on the greens. Like so many other big hitters, Woodland struggles to hole enough of the putts that make the difference between contenders and winners. Woodland has had a few weeks off and the reports are that he has been working tirelessly on his short game. If he can get it right, he is most certainly good enough to become a multiple winner.

It will be fascinating to watch Jason Dufner's progress in the coming 12 months. Since separating from his wife and losing weight in a drastic fitness regime, the former US PGA champion has suffered a dramatic slump in form. Only towards the end of the season were there some signs that he was on the way back. But if he is to make it all way back to the top, Dufner will have to get his putting stroke sorted out. This is a man who turns to jelly when he stands over a three-foot putt but, like Woodland, he has been working hard to find a way to get the ball in the hole. Dufner is a determined character and I have a feeling that this could be a big season for him.

He will also take heart from the travails of those who, having discarded the belly putter, are currently struggling to find their way on the greens - Tim Clark, Keegan Bradley, Martin Laird, Ernie Els and Webb Simpson all spring to mind. They are all now brandishing conventional putters and none of them looks comfortable, especially Simpson.

CIMB Classic Betting Picks

To win - Jason Dufner 70/1 Ready to win again 

Each way - Hideki Matsuyama 16/1 Class act

Each way - Ryan Moore 22/1 Loves this part of the world

CIMB Fantasy picks

Jason Dufner. Don't expect to see too many smiles

Hideki Matsuyama. If the putts drop, watch him go

Ryan Moore. Has good memories of this place

Gary Woodland. Brilliant ball striker

Kevin Na. Mr Consistency

Danny Lee. Finally finding his feet

Brendon de Jonge. Had a great year last season

Paul Casey. On the way back up the rankings

Ryo Ishikawa. Could be a make-or-break year

Prom Meesawat. Could spring a surprise