2018 CIMB Classic Odds: Justin Thomas Looking for 3rd Win in 4 Years
By Michael Harrison in Golf
Updated: April 10, 2020 at 6:40 pm EDTPublished:
- Justin Thomas is the heavy favorite to win the CIMB Classic for the third time
- Can Pat Perez become the third straight golfer to win two CIMB titles in a row?
- The golfers with the best value to emerge victorious
The second event on the PGA Tour calendar heads to Kuala Lumpur for the CIMB Classic, a limited 78-man, no cut field.
This tournament is unique in that the first five years it has been an official PGA Tour stop, it has been a breeding ground for back-to-back champs, with Pat Perez looking to make that a trifecta.
Odds to Win 2018 CIMB Classic
| Player | Odds to win 2018 CIMB Classic |
|---|---|
| Justin Thomas | +500 |
| Ryan Moore | +1600 |
| Billy Horschel | +1600 |
| Xander Schauffele | +1600 |
| Gary Woodland | +2000 |
| Paul Casey | +2200 |
| Keegan Bradley | +2500 |
| Marc Leishman | +2800 |
| Cameron Smith | +2800 |
| Brandt Snedeker | +3300 |
Follow the link in the table to see all options
Can Justin Thomas be stopped?
Justin Thomas is the heavy favorite and rightfully so, as he’s in search of winning this tournament for the third time in the last four years (2015, 2016).
There is nothing about his recent play to suggest he shouldn’t have an excellent chance at emerging victorious, with nothing worse than a T-24 on his resume in his last six events, including a victory at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.
He’s comfortable on this course and was one of the few Americans to show up at the Ryder Cup. As much as the value isn’t there to bet on Thomas, it would be foolish to not at least strongly consider him.
Previous 5 CIMB Classic Champions
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Pat Perez |
| 2016 | Justin Thomas |
| 2015 | Justin Thomas |
| 2014 | Ryan Moore |
| 2013 | Ryan Moore |
Don’t Bank on a Perez Repeat
His value at +8000 is extremely enticing but do not get snookered into wagering on him to follow in Ryan Moore and Justin Thomas’ footsteps.
All the times Pat Perez’s club accidentally fell out of his hands. pic.twitter.com/FqIyg0t8Xi
— Skratch (@Skratch) October 16, 2017
Perez has been awful for the better part of a year, with only one top ten finish since January at the Zurich Classic, a two-man team event. Don’t even consider Perez to repeat.
Pat Perez’s Last Five Tournaments
| Tournament | Result |
|---|---|
| BMW Championship | T-55 |
| Dell Technologies Championship | W/D |
| The Northern Trust | T-40 |
| PGA Championship | T-35 |
| WGC-Bridgestone Invitational | T-63 |
CIMB Classic Best Value Picks
- Kyle Stanley (+4000): Two second place finishes last season with two top-15 finishes in the FedEx Cup playoffs.
- Thomas Pieters (+6600): While he hasn’t been the sharpest of late in Europe, he’s too talented in a condensed field to ignore at these odds. Tied for sixth in last PGA Tour event at the PGA Championship.
- Kiradech Aphibarnrat (+8000): Only played this event at this course once, but that was a tie for third in 2013. Four-time winner on European Tour including once this year.
- Ollie Schniederjans (+17500): Eight top-ten finishes in last two PGA Tour seasons. The former #1 ranked amateur in the world has juicy odds and looks to follow in fellow American Justin Thomas’ footsteps and make the CIMB Classic his first PGA Tour title.
Sports & Entertainment Writer
Michael "Hound Dog" Harrison is well known in the sports industry as the resident statistician for the SC with Jay Onrait Show. He has worked at TSN for over 19 years, is the CEO of his "All Bets Par Off" weekly golf betting videos and his HDOG POD, along with several others.
