ESPN Golf Experts' picks: CIMB Classic

Each week of the season, our experts share their insights into which players fit the criteria for our four categories: Horse for the Course (a golfer who knows the track inside and out), Birdie Buster (a guy who could take it low), Super Sleeper (a player who could unexpectedly contend) and Winner.

This week, the PGA Tour heads to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the CIMB Classic.

CIMB Classic

- Defending champion: Ryan Moore

- Tee times, leaderboard | Experts' picks

- Photos from the CIMB Classic, golf tours

- Venue: Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club (West); par-72; 6,951 yards

- Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

- TV coverage: Wednesday-Saturday, 11 p.m.-3 a.m. ET

- Payout: A 78-man field with winner taking $1,260,000 of a $7 million purse

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Horse for the Course

Michael Collins, ESPN.com senior golf analyst: Ryan Moore

I guess if the last three winners aren't playing, you get this category by default. But after missing the cut in Las Vegas a couple of weeks back, maybe returning to the place where you're the defending champ is just what's needed to kick-start the year.

Farrell Evans, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Ryan Moore

Last year in Malaysia, the 31-year-old former U.S. Amateur champion shot a 63 in the first round of this event that propelled him to a 14-under total and his third PGA Tour win.

Bob Harig, ESPN.com senior golf writer: Ryan Moore

The defending champion used his victory a year ago to propel him to one of his best seasons on the PGA Tour. He captured that title at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club in a sudden-death playoff over Gary Woodland.

Kevin Maguire, ESPN.com senior golf editor: Billy Horschel

Sure, he hasn't played since his wife had their first child days after he took home millions for winning the FedEx Cup in September, but the former Florida Gator knows how to make an entrance and this week shouldn't be much different.

Birdie Buster

Collins: Sergio Garcia

This will be the first time we see Sergio for the 2014-15 season after proving his usefulness on the winning Ryder Cup team. Last year was his first time playing the event and he finished 1 shot out of a top 10. I expect this year a top-10 at worst.

Evans: Will MacKenzie

Golf's surfboarding and paddle boarding king got his 2014-15 season off to a hot start with a second last week at the McGladrey Classic, where he lost in a three-way playoff. MacKenzie is trying to improve upon last season, where he had a career-best five top-10s.

Harig: Will MacKenzie

If he can stay awake after the long journey from Sea Island, Georgia, McKenzie's game is in excellent shape. He played nicely at the McGladrey Classic, where he lost in a sudden-death playoff on Sunday.

Maguire: Prom Meesawat

Two weeks ago, Meesawat finished T-20 in Hong Kong on the European Tour and followed that up with a T-2 in the Venetian Macau Open on the Asian Tour. It also helps that he's not one of the golfers flying all the way from the U.S. for a tournament on the opposite side of the globe.

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Collins: Angelo Que

OK, I'd be seriously lying if I didn't admit that I want to see him paired with John Huh at some point during this event!! If you don't know why (what) ... nevermind. That being said, Que is coming off a second-place finish in Hong Kong where he lost in a playoff to Scott Hend, so the guy does have game. And if he's leading Sunday on the 18th they can play "Turn Down for What" as he walks to the green.

Evans: Guan Tianlang

The 16-year-old Chinese superstar is not much of a favorite to win this week in Malaysia. He's still just a kid. But few had any expectations of him when he made the cut at the 2013 Masters as a 14-year-old.

Harig: Jason Dufner

Making just his second start since withdrawing from the PGA Championship in August with neck and shoulder issues, Dufner is coming off a tie for 23rd last week in Perth, Australia.

Maguire: Anirban Lahiri

Lahiri, from India, sits in second place on the Asian Tour's money list, so he's got plenty of incentive to post a strong finish as their season winds down. This week's winner takes home $1,260,000, which is almost double what the leading money winner on the Asian Tour has earned for the entire season.

Winner

Collins: Graham DeLaet

Sometimes it's easier to get your first win outside the continent you're from. For the Canadian, the good news is this win now counts as a full-fledged PGA Tour event and everything that comes with it. Not a bad second start of the year, but what else would you expect from a guy who finished seventh here last year?

Evans: Kevin Streelman

If you want to bet on a player to go on a hot streak with a string of birdies to steal a tournament, this 35-year-old two-time PGA Tour winner should be high on your list. Few players in the world roll the golf ball better than this Duke graduate. In the wraparound season, Streelman already has a second-place finish after a 63-65 on the weekend in Las Vegas.

Harig: Sergio Garcia

Making his first start since the Ryder Cup, Garcia -- at No. 4 in the world -- is the highest-ranked player in the field and had success in the event a year ago, tying for 11th. Garcia hasn't won since January, but had a very solid year.

Maguire: Hideki Matsuyama

Matsuyama is one of only three players to start off the 2014-15 PGA Tour season with two top-10s. The fact the 22-year-old took last week off means he'll be well rested to grab career win No. 2 in the 78-man field in Malaysia.