CIMB Classic: five sleeper picks

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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – OCTOBER 22: Anirban Lahiri of India plays a shot on the 8th hole during day three of the 2016 CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur on October 22, 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images) /

Anirban Lahiri was in position to pick up his first PGA Tour win here last year, but could not convert the 54-hole lead as he settled for T3 in the wake of Justin Thomas’ title defense. Nonetheless, TPC Kuala Lumpur has still been an ATM of sorts for the 30-year-old Indian.

Lahiri won the Maybank Malaysian Open, a European Tour and Asian Tour co-sanctioned event, at TPC Kuala Lumpur in 2015. Before Lahiri blossomed into the world top 100 player he is now, he placed T52 at the CIMB Classic in 2014 and T35 in 2013.

Of late, Lahiri should have some confidence going 1-1-1 at the Presidents Cup. He was one of two International team members to go .500 or better and it was a marked improvement from his 0-3 record in 2015.

The winning score at TPC Kuala Lumpur tends to be pretty low, which should benefit Lahiri. He was 14th on Tour in birdie or better percentage last season.

The key this week for Lahiri will be avoiding giving shots away around the green. He was 170th last year in scrambling and it cost him as his lead at the 2016 CIMB Classic disappeared on the back nine.

I fought back as best I could, but I just couldn’t get the putts to fall on the back nine,” Lahiri said in the post tournament press conference. “I had numerous lipouts and then just really disappointed that I didn’t birdie 17 or 18 or even 16, for that matter. Just didn’t get the numbers right with my wedges. I didn’t hit them close. It’s very disappointing.”

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