The European Tour heads to Kuala Lumpur this week for the fourth edition of the Maybank Championship.
There will be another guest in Asia as the Ryder Cup trophy will be on show for the Malaysia fans alongside Europe’s winning captain from the 2018 tournament, Thomas Bjørn, and Padraig Harrington, recently appointed as European captain for the 2020 tournament in the United States.
We look at the three players you might want to consider for inclusion in your fantasy teams this week.
Favourite - Kurt Kitayama
The American has taken the European Tour by storm since earning his 2019 card through Q School, taking no time to enter the winner's circle on more than one occasion.
The 26-year-old claimed the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open on just his third European Tour start in December before winning the Oman Open in only his 11th career appearance, while top 20 finishes at the South African Open hosted by the City of Johannesburg and Commerical Bank Qatar Masters has seen the Las Vegas native soar to seventh in the 2019 Race to Dubai Rankings Presented by Rolex.
Kitayama is 21st in the driving distance standings and 30th when landing his approach hit under green in regulation, which will be a huge help on the par 72 Saujana Golf & Country Club course.
Form Horse - Guido Migliozzi
The 22-year-old claimed his maiden European Tour title at last week's Magical Kenya Open presented by Absa on just his 14th start.
It was an impressive victory considering he had not recorded a top ten in any of his previous 13 starts on the European Tour, and had to borrow a two iron off fellow Italian and last year's winner Lorenzo Gagli.
Migliozzi could be in contention once again if he can continue his fine form from tee to green - where he is currently ranked 27th on the European Tour, picking up 1.532 shots per round - on a Saujana Golf & Country Club which is playing over 7000 yards this week.
Wildcard - Thomas Pieters
The 2016 Ryder Cup star has been ultra-consistent in recent months despite not adding to his three European Tour victories since 2016.
The 2016 Ryder Cup star has been ultra-consistent in recent months despite not adding to his three European Tour victories since 2016.
Pieters has been in the top 30 in eight of his last nine European Tour starts, peaking at the Oman Open earlier this month when he finished two shots behind winner Kitayama in a tie for sixth.
The Belgian is a big hitter off the tee, which will play into his hands in Malaysia and could be a dark horse to get back into the winner's circle in Kuala Lumpur if he can nudge his fine form over all four days.
