PADRAIG HARRINGTON and Miguel Angel Jimenez contest favouritism as they make their first appearances of the year on the European Tour in the Malaysian Open, starting on Thursday.
The event returns to Saujana Golf & Country Club for the fourth time after visiting the course in Kuala Lumpur in 1999, 2001 and last year.
Harrington, who lost a play-off to Vijay Singh on the course in 2001, is a best-priced 13-2 with Bet Direct, and Jimenez, the most prolific winner on the tour last season when winning five times, a general 8-1.
Their chances are respected, yet neither made the frame behind Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee in a similarly weak field last year.
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Jaidee, ranked first on the Asian Tour and two-time Asian Order Of Merit winner, is a fair 20-1 to defend the title, but it could pay to take a flyer at general odds of 80-1 on Zhang Lian-wei.
The first Chinese golfer to win an event on the European Tour when landing the Caltex Masters in Singapore in January 2003, Zhang has played well in three starts on the present schedule, finishing 28th, eighth and 21st in the China Open, Hong Kong Open and Caltex Masters.
He will be unfazed by the heat and humidity that will test many and, short and straight, should be well served by a course that places a premium on accuracy.