Philadelphia, PA – PGA TOUR - CIMB ASIA PACIFIC CLASIC The Mines Resort & Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - The first unofficial event of the PGA Tour's offseason kicks off this week with the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia.
Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera will be among the headliners in the 48- player field. Brandt Snedeker and Jhonattan Vegas, who both won on the PGA Tour this year, as well as Vijay Singh and a pair of Asian Tour stalwarts -- Thongchai Jaidee and Jeev Milkha Singh -- are all in the field at the Mines Resort.
Ben Crane closed with a two-under 69 last year to win the inaugural title by a stroke over Brian Davis. Current world No. 1 Luke Donald had four straight 67s to share third place with Martin Laird at minus-16.
It was after this event last year that Tiger Woods lost the top spot in the world rankings. With his little play, and poor results over the last two years, Woods has now tumbled to 55th in the world.
Last year's event was the first PGA Tour-sanctioned event in Southeast Asia.
Golf Channel will have live coverage of all four rounds in the middle of the night eastern time.
The next unofficial stop for the PGA Tour will be next week in China, where Francesco Molinari is expected to defend his title at the WGC - HSBC Champions.
EUROPEAN TOUR
ANDALUCIA MASTERS - Club de Golf Valderrama - Sotogrande, Spain - Graeme McDowell survived a tough weekend at Valderrama last year to earn a two-stroke win at the inaugural Andalucia Masters.
McDowell was four-over par on the weekend, but it was enough for his seventh European Tour title. Gareth Maybin entered the final round tied for the lead with McDowell, but struggled to a five-over 76 in the final round to end two back at minus-one.
For the 2010 U.S. Open champion, it was his third European Tour title of the year.
Soren Kjeldsen was one of four players to shoot under par for the final two rounds as he closed with rounds of 68-69 after stumbling to a 75 in round two.
McDowell will be joined in the field by former PGA Champion Martin Kaymer and Justin Rose as well as a large Spanish contingent headed by Miguel Angel Jimenez, Pablo Larrazabal, Alvaro Quiros and 2012 Ryder Cup Captain Jose Maria Olazabal.
Kaymer will be trying to close the gap on Luke Donald for the race to finish atop the European Tour's Order of Merit. Donald leads by over 1.3 million euros and if he can hang on to that lead, he'll be the first to top both the Race to Dubai (European Tour Order of Merit) and the PGA Tour money list in the same season. Donald won the final official PGA Tour event last weekend to finish atop that money list.
Golf Channel has all four rounds of coverage.
The tour heads to Asia for the next two weeks. First up is the WGC - HSBC Champions, where Francesco Molinari held off Lee Westwood by a single stroke last year.
NATIONWIDE TOUR
NATIONWIDE TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP AT DANIEL ISLAND - Daniel Island Club, Charleston, South Carolina - The top 60 on the money list are headed to the Daniel Island Club this weekend for the Nationwide Tour Championship.
The top 25 on the money list after this tournament will earn their PGA Tour cards for 2012.
David Lingmerth and John Kimbell moved inside the top 60 with their performances last weekend at the Jacksonville Open and now will have a shot at earning their PGA Tour card for next year.
Gavin Coles won the Jacksonville Open and jumped to 15th on the money list nearly guaranteeing himself his 2012 PGA Tour card.
Last year, Brendan Steele downed Colt Knost to win the title. Steele went on to earn his first PGA Tour victory this year at the Texas Open.
Golf Channel has live coverage of all four rounds.
This is the final event of the 2011 season.
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