Marcus Fraser makes his first European Tour outing of 2017 this week when he defends the Maybank Championship title he won in thrilling fashion last year.

The 38-year-old claimed his third European title six years after his second when Korea’s Soomin Lee stumbled over the closing stages in Kuala Lumpur and Fraser pounced.

Fraser opted not to play any of the Tour’s desert swing events this year and as such comes in a little under-done, though played some decent golf at last week’s ISPS HANDA PGA Tour of Australasia Victorian PGA Championship at Huntingdale.

Eight Australians take their place in the field this week at the Asian Tour co-sanctioned tournament including Australia’s most recent tournament winner, Todd Sinnott.

Sinnott won his second outing as an Asian Tour member two weeks ago in Myanmar to guarantee his place in this week’s field and if he were to produce a similar performance at the Saujuna Golf and Country Club this week would complete a meteoric rise.

It was only a month ago Sinnott secured Asian Tour playing rights at the annual Q-School and with his win in Myanmar, a tournament co-sanctioned with the Japan Tour, also earned status on that circuit.

One of the longest hitters in golf, Sinnott now has the opportunity to refine his game with a full international schedule for the first time in his three years as a Professional and playing with confidence and freedom this week should be considered a danger.

Also teeing up in Kuala Lumpur are European Tour players Sam Brazel, Scott Hend, Nathan Holman and Andrew Dodt as well as Terry Pilkadaris from the Asian Tour.

Star amateur Curtis Luck has also received an invite to play, his third European Tour event in four weeks.

Luck made the cut at both Abu Dhabi and again last week in Dubai where he flirted with the top 10 after three rounds and a similar performance this week would be no surprise.