Approach Shots: CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia

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News, notes and predictions as we get set for the first round of the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia in Selangor, Malaysia.

In addition to his seven PGA TOUR titles, Adam Scott has nine international wins, including in China and Singapore. He'll seek to add another country to his list this week in his first visit to Malaysia to play the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic.

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Scattered storms, temperatures around 90. Winds from the NW at 8 mph. Updated weather info

"I'm enjoying it very much as I always do in Asia," Scott said. "The course (Mines Resort) is very impressive. It's in fabulous condition and it'll prove to be a challenge to everyone.

"I would like to keep the good vibe going here in Malaysia. I love playing up here and I've had some success."

After a poor couple of seasons, the dashing Australian claimed victory at the Valero Texas Open this year and has finished top-10 in three of his last six starts in America.

Scott believes his game is back on the upswing.

"At the end of last year, I started swinging the club better and had some good results and built some good momentum from there and I've won a couple of events," he said. "I'm fairly pleased with where my game is at. It's still a work in progress, but I can see there is a lot of room for improvement which is good."

ELS ALSO CONFIDENT: Ernie Els won twice on the PGA TOUR this year, tied for seventh in his last start in the U.S. and comes off a win in the four-man PGA Grand Slam of Golf last week in Bermuda. It's no wonder he'll enter this week's CIMB Asia Pacific Classic with plenty of confidence.

"After last week's win, I'm coming in here feeling good about my game," said Els, the 11th-ranked player in the world.

Els was delighted with his new driver in the bag last week and also pleased to find his touch on the greens.

"It felt great and I was definitely getting it out there a long way. I'm expecting to drive the ball very well again this week."

YANG EXPECTS LOW SCORES: Korean Y.E. Yang will likely draw a big gallery this week in Asia. The 2009 PGA Championship winner not only was the first Asian player to win a major, he's an honorary member of the Asian Tour.

He thinks the 40-man field will see plenty of red numbers at the par-71 Mines Resort & Golf Club.

"It's going to be fun, it looks like a fun course," Yang said. "It seems like a lot of birdies will come out.

"The key is to play well on the greens, which are fast and undulating."

Designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr. the Mines Resort course was transformed from the world's largest open cast tin mine into an international championship standard layout in 1993.

Columnists' predictions

Each week, PGATOUR.COM columnists will predict the winner. Here are their picks for the CIMB Asia Pacific Classic Malaysia: Columnist Pick Comment Stan AWTREY Retief Goosen: He's won all over the world, so why not add Malaysia to the list? A victory is the only thing his resume is missing for 2010.. Craig DOLCH Ernie Els: The type of player who, when he gets on a roll, can keep it rolling. His victory in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf has to give him a huge confidence lift. Melanie HAUSER Rickie Fowler: For the third week in a row, it's time. It's REALLY time.

Did you know?

Nineteen-year old Noh Seung-yul made his mark on the world of golf in 2008 when he was just 17, where he went on to claim his first Asian Tour title at the Midea China Classic. He then continued to show his talent at the 2010 Malaysian Open. Winning by a slim margin of one shot ahead of compatriot K.J. Choi, Noh became the second-youngest player to claim the co-sanctioned European Tour title, behind New Zealands Danny Lee (a record that was recently broken by Matteo Manassero).