The LPGA has stopped in Malaysia for the penultimate event in the Asian swing. The par-72 West Course at Kuala Lumpur GC stretches out to 6,536 yards. But don't let that fool you; it unleashes its fangs when you least expect it to. The tree-lined fairways are not too narrow, but smartly placed bunkers force players to make strategic decisions. Also, water is in play on 10 holes.

On the other hand, the greens are large, sloping, and can play as fast as 12 on the Stimpmeter under the right conditions. Deep greenside bunkers and severe runoffs around the edges mean you'll need to be precise with your approach shots, too.

Clearly, players need to have an elite iron game and nifty scrambling to lift the silverware here. Speaking of silverware, Maybank offers one of the coolest trophies in golf, with an apex predator’s face hidden in the sculpture. Can you guess the creature? 

Ruoning Yin took it home last year and will look to defend her title. But she will face tough challenges from Jeeno Thitikul, Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, and Hannah Green. Thitikul has shown staggering consistency with two back-to-back runner-up finishes. After the opening round today, she is tied with Yin at T21, just four shots behind first-round leader Choi Hye-jin (8-under).

Lydia Ko is another top contender, and she is tied at 4th, along with Hannah Green (6-under). Brooke Henderson has stellar records on similar courses, so she can easily better her 2-under first round to claw back to the top.

With just three events left before the season-ending CME Group Tour Championship, the stakes couldn’t be higher. In Malaysia, everyone is playing for something bigger than the $3 million purse and the rare trophy.

Golf gods have taken a sabbatical from offering Jordan Spieth a title. Or, even a runner-up finish. For almost three years now. What they haven’t shied away from offering is, well, a sponsor exemption. And yes, his latest one, to the Tiger Woods-hosted Hero World Challenge (HWC), proves that much.

Billy Horschel also got one. Akshay Bhatia, another. The third one was reserved for Jordan Spieth. His sixth of this year. Six invites and only four top-ten finishes... that's a bit of a slap in the face for other players who have proven their mettle.

More so because the Spieth who became the second-youngest Masters champion, the one who almost completed a Grand Slam before turning 25, has gone MIA. Granted, he is a former champion at HWC. Granted, too, that he gave us one of the most hilarious moments in golf history when he teed off in the wrong hole, as you can see below: 

But his form makes it hard to defend the favors. The irony is that a 16-year-old Spieth wrote a marvelous letter to the Byron Nelson organizers requesting a special invite. They were so impressed that they agreed to let the teenager make his Tour debut. This letter from a teenage Spieth is worth your time.

He eventually finished T16. Now imagine a promising teenager hoping for an invite and then watching Spieth walk away with it. Not a good look for the game.

We can say pretty much the same for Bhatia and Horschel. Horschel — for all his valorous fights against gators — is facing an even worse slump. Sure, these exemptions are helpful for pros to regain form. But they are also an avenue for up-and-coming stars to shine on the big stage. We rarely get to see that nowadays.

When it comes to weight transfer in your golf swing, it should feel as natural as walking. Some amateurs don’t get it right, like this golfer whose mishit bounced straight back to his... groin! To avoid mishaps like that and hit crisp shots, follow this easy drill.

This drill will help you achieve crisp contact and hit pure shots. Once you’ve got the momentum right, explore these advanced drills to perfect your swing.

Can we please bring back posh, tweedy golf apparel? Those dark blue stripes are crying for a splash of color. And the pastel shorts or the retro Nike looks deserve a comeback. Take a sneak peek into this 94-year-old grandma's closet — and you’ll demand the same. She’s been golfing for 40 years now, and her closets (there are more than five) are filled with vibrant colors and suave designs.

The apparel fever is nothing new to golf. Ian Poulter's colorful appearance, anyone? JT's vintage jerseys and sneakers? His game might be missing that panache, but his fashion choice sure doesn’t. Let Justin Thomas himself give you a tour inside his closet. Impressive!