CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Preview

Lowdown: A field of 40 has assembled in Malaysia for the first PGA Tour sanctioned event to be held in Southeast Asia. Luke Donald is the top ranked player on the start sheet at the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic. The Mines Resort and Golf Club in Selangor will play host to the event which is co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour, the Asian Tour and the PGA of Malaysia. Luke Donald is the top ranked player in the field this week but the Englishman will be joined by an impressive cast list of players including – Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Tim Clark and Rickie Fowler. Asia's first Major champion Y.E Yang will also tee it up at the Mines Resort. "This is definitely a good idea and to have the PGA TOUR partner with the Asian Tour, it reflects how the Asian Tour has made big strides," Yang said. Current Asian Tour number 1 Noh Seung-yul is looking forward to the tournament. He's paired with Luke Donald in the first two rounds. "It's a good opportunity for the Asian Tour players to showcase our talents and hopefully, and probably, one of us can do well this week," he said. The course at the Mines Resort is by Robert Trent Jones Jnr and is constructed on a former tin mine. It was opened for play in 1993. A huge, 150-acre, lake is a key feature and it comes into play on a number of holes. The Mines Resort and Golf Club is no stranger to hosting significant competition. It was the venue for the World Cup of 1999, the women's World Cup in 2000 and the Malaysian Open in 2003.

Venue: The Mines Resort and Golf Club, Selangor, Malaysia Date: Oct 28-31 Course stats: par 71, 6,996 yards Purse: $6,000,000 Winner: $1,000,000 Defending Champion: Inaugural tournament

TV Coverage: Thursday 28 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 6am Friday 29 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 6am Saturday 30 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 6am Sunday 31 - Live on Sky Sports 3 from 6am

Player Watch: Noh Seung-yul - The teenage Korean leads the Asian Tour money list. He's had four top 10 finishes in his last five starts. His game should be suited to the Mines Resort course.

Luke Donald - It's the Englishman's first start since the Ryder Cup but he's the top ranked player in the field and, as a great scrambler and putter, should cope well with the tricky greens here.

Robert Allenby - One of the most consistent performers in the world, Allenby was tied second in his last start on the PGA Tour. Expect to see him contend again this week. Key hole: 17th. A par 4 of just 523 yards, it's eminently reachable in two but danger lurks for both drive and approach. Anything straying too far right off the tee could end up lost and the approach must carry all the way to the raised green. Expect to see plenty of birdies and the odd eagle here. Negotiating this hole successfully could prove crucial on Sunday afternoon.

Skills required: Short game. The Mines is not a particularly long course but the greens and surrounds are difficult. Look for the good scramblers and putters to perform well this week.