CIMB Classic 2015 : here we go!

Day 1 of the CIMB Classic 2015 begins tomorrow and the first flight will tee off at 7.45am. Here we go! 

Won't be blogging too much as I will be on the course for pretty much the whole day. So follow me on instagram : gordonkakigolf for pictures and videos from the CIMB Classic!

The CIMB CLASSIC 2015

If you haven't noticed the countdown timer on the right side of the blog, let me just remind you that it's less then a week to the CIMB Classic 2015!

The complete field has been updated! Check here. Notable mentions with rankings - Henrik Stenson (6), Adam Scott (16), Sergio Garcia (11), Hideki Matsuyama (15), Patrick Reed (20), Kevin Na (24), Keegan Bradley (58), Luke Donald (66), Defending Champion, Ryan Moore (52) and local boys Ben Leong and Danny Chia (who are both in fine form this season) make up part of the 78 player field for the prestigious PGA event (co-sanctioned with the Asian Tour) but we could see a couple more names by the end of the week.

A lack of star power perhaps, but with 6 of the top 25 and a good number of PGA Tour / Major Winners, I would say it's a pretty good looking field. 

 

Cimb Classic 2014

 

The CIMB classic is a 4 day, no cut event and will see the players compete for the coveted trophy and a share of the hefty $7 million purse ($1.26 mil to the winner), oh! and don't forget, there are 500 Fed-ex cup points up for grabs too. KLGCC has been a good hunting ground for defending champion Ryan Moore who has won the event twice now. Can he make it a hat trick?

 CIMB Classic 2014

I have been to the CIMB Classic twice so far ('13 and '14). I will be heading over again this year, but this time it's going to be a whole lot different.

CIMB Classic 2014

This year, I will be volunteering! Yeap! This time I am going to be behind the ropes and from what I hear it's going to be an awesome experience. I can't wait. Seriously can't wait! 

Volunteer sign up has closed I believe, but if you want to know more about it, check here.

I will be updating pictures on Instagram so please feel free to follow "Gordon McCloud" for pictures and updates!

Mark your golf balls with Marki!

When it comes to marking golf balls, Sharpie usually spring to mind. While the black markers are fine, the coloured markers (Green & Sky Blue for instance) don't last as long and aren't as prominent. 

Thanks to my mate Chris, I have been introduced to another brand of ball markers, Marki. 

Marki markers come in 8 colours and are made specifically to mark golf balls. Got the blue and black to try out and put them to the test!

The two dots on top were made with the Marki while the bottom two dots were made with Sharpie markers.

The blues aren't the same so I won't compare them. 

However, the Marki markers are definitely 'darker' and prominent. If you look at the black dot for instance, the Marki dot is darker / blacker then the Sharpie Dot.

If I recall correctly a Sharpie Marker costs a bit more then a Marki marker too so that's also worth considering. Although, I am hoping the good folks at Marki come up with a 'mini' marker just so it's easier to keep in the golf bag. 

So if you are in the market for a marker that's darker and more prominent, give Markis ago. If you don't mark your balls.. then start too!

Oh, as a matter of interest, noticed that both Lydia Ko and Danielle Kang both use Marki markers too when they were signing autographs.

The Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2015

What a weekend it's been!

Managed to catch days 3 and 4 of the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia Tournament at the KLGCC and man was it a good experience.

In the end, it was Jessica Korda, who clinched Victory on the East Course to win by 4 strokes. Played 4 really solid rounds of golf and thoroughly deserved the win. Followed Jessica's flight on day 3 for a while (together with Lydia Ko and Haru Nomura) and she can hit it really long!

Congratulations once again Jessica! 

Watching the stars of the LPGA in action up close was a real treat and the cherry on top? getting autographs and 'wefies' with some of these talented and friendly ladies. Always ready with a smile and happy to oblige for autographs.

With the tournament extended for a further 3 years, you bet I will be back next year. 

LPGA, see why it's different out here!

To the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia we go!

With day 2 of the SDLPGA under way it looks like things are good to go. 

I suppose there was some good news in the rain delay during yesterday's first round. The sky is clearing steadily and I am hoping for a good one this weekend. Would have liked to be there during the first two days where the crowd is considerably lesser. 

But what I don't get is the poor attendance across the board (Maybank Malaysian Open, SDLPGA and even the Cimb Classic). Sure the crowds pick up during the weekends but based on the number of golfers we have in Malaysia, the place should be packed! 

I have said it a thousand times and I will say it again. Watching these professional athletes play live is entirely different from watching it on the telly, trust me! 

Anyways, I am flying over today to catch days 3 and 4 so there's still plenty of golf left to be played. 

If you're heading to the course this weekend, have a good one and keep the ball in play!

Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2015

October is here and that means it's time for the Sime Darby LPGA Malaysia 2015 (9-11.10.2015) and the CIMB Classic 2015 (29.10-1.11) at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.

A couple of weeks ago, I won weekend passes to the Sime Darby LPGA tournament from MST's facebook contest and I am looking forward to watching it for the first time.

However, there's the elephant in the room that we need to address. This bloody HAZE!!

At this rate, it doesn't look like the Haze is going anywhere and with the Sime Darby LPGA starting on Thursday (4 days ) time, the Tournament Committee have issued a statement.

In short, if the Haze doesn't improve.. there's a big chance the tournament won't go on.. =((((

So I am definitely hoping.. that the Haze magically disappears this week. It would be a huge shame if such a big tournament doesn't go on. 

Fingers and toes crossed!