Cameron Smith ready to follow his friend into winner's enclosure

Starts Midnight Wednesday
Sky Sports Golf from 3am Thursday

World number four Justin Thomas is looking to successfully defend his CJ Cup title this week, 12 months after beating Marc Leishman in a playoff in the inaugural event.

Thomas tops the betting, but three-time Major champion Brooks Koepka is making his CJ Cup debut to lay down a challenge to the favourite. Koepka finished seventh in the Dunhill Links Championship last time out.

Palmer's top tip
Cameron Smith 28-1
Every night of the CIMB Classic last week, Cameron Smith had dinner with his good friend and practice partner Marc Leishman, and seeing his compatriot win that event in such emphatic fashion should act as an inspiration for the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges.

This could easily be Smith's turn to triumph and bring a trophy to the table. Smith and Leishman will join forces for Australia in the World Cup of Golf at the end of next month and the team seem likely to be starting their Cup campaign in rude health.

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Smith could not keep pace with his mate in the CIMB, but four rounds in the 60s for 22nd place was a respectable effort, and the younger Aussie has got himself nicely acclimatised in Asia. Having finished third in the CJ Cup last year, beaten by only a shot, Smith will fancy his chances of threatening a maiden US Tour title.

The Florida-based 25-year-old twice finished third in the FedEx Cup playoffs – Northern Trust and Dell Technologies – and has shown he is capable of contending in the best company. He was fourth on his Major debut in the 2015 US Open and fifth in the Masters in April.

Smith won a US Tour pairs event – the 2017 Zurich Classic alongside Jonas Blixt – and as an individual at home in the Australian PGA Championship in December last year. It seems only a matter of time before he gets off the mark on the US Tour on his own and the CJ Cup looks a fantastic opportunity.

Next best
Byeong Hun An 35-1
A CIMB Classic warm-up seems a significant advantage – players jetting to Korea from the other side of the world are likely to make a sluggish start – and Byeong Hun An can hit the ground running after finishing 13th in Kuala Lumpur last week.

An started and closed the CIMB with a round of 66, a continuation of the solid golf he produced on his way to eighth place in the Donghae Open on the Asian Tour a month ago, and any warming of the putter should make the Korean a serious threat in his homeland this week.

An finished 11th in the CJ Cup last year, despite arriving in terrible form and without the advantage of a CIMB warm-up, so even better can be expected this time. This formidable ball-striker has been loudly threatening a US Tour breakthrough, losing a playoff for the Memorial in June, then taking runner-up honours behind Dustin Johnson in the Canadian Open at the end of July.

An won a lesser event in Korea in 2015 – the Donghae Open – and the Seoul man could enjoy the adulation of home galleries again on Sunday.

Other selection
Si Woo Kim 60-1

Complete a three-pronged attack with another world-class Korean – Si Woo Kim is too deep down the betting for a two-time US Tour champion competing on home turf. Kim won the Players Championship – the 'fifth Major' – last year and it is no surprise to see early 66-1 CJ Cup quotes devoured by punters.

Kim made a tidy start to the new US Tour season by finishing tenth in the CIMB, signing off with hugely encouraging weekend rounds of 66 and 65. The injury-prone 23-year-old looks healthy and strong – a month off clearly did him good – and there is every reason to expect CJ Cup fireworks.

Kim tied 44th of 78 at Nine Bridges last year, but he was badly struggling for fitness and form, finishing 77th of 78 in the CIMB the week before. He is in much finer fettle 12 months later.

Others to note
Emiliano Grillo
The sweet-swinging Argentinian finished second in the CIMB on Sunday and could easily threaten glory again.

CT Pan
The Taiwanese youngster has fond memories of Korea, having won a gold medal as an amateur at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, and could run into a place.

Ian Poulter
The Ryder Cup star has renewed self-belief after his Paris heroics and could contend in Korea, but the lack of a CIMB warm-up is off-putting.

Louis Oosthuizen
The former Open champion bounced back to form in the CIMB, sharing fifth place, and seems a likely contender again.

Alexander Noren
The Swede has been presented with a good chance of securing a maiden US Tour title on a course which suits, but, like Poulter, this is his first start since the Ryder Cup.

Marc Leishman
The runaway CIMB champion lost a playoff for the CJ Cup last year and, like Justin Thomas, has obvious claims on course and current form.

Staking plan
C Smith
3pts each-way 28-1 Sky Bet, 188bet
B H An
2.5pts each-way 35-1 BoyleSports
S W Kim
1pt each-way 60-1 bet365

The lowdown

Course Nine Bridges, Jeju Island, South Korea

Prize money €9.5m ($1.665m to the winner)

Length 7,196 yards

Par 72

Field 78

Course records – 72 holes 279 Justin Thomas (2017), Marc Leishman (2017) 18 holes 63 Justin Thomas (2017)

Course winner taking part Justin Thomas

When to bet By Midnight Wednesday

Where to watch Live on Sky Sports from 3am Thursday

Time difference Korea is eight hours ahead of the UK and Ireland

Last week – CIMB Classic 1 M Leishman (22-1), T2 E Grillo (33-1), C Hadley (110-1), B Burgoon (100-1), T5 J Thomas (5-1), A Ancer (80-1), C Howell (55-1), L Oosthuizen (33-1), G Woodland (22-1)

Course overview Nine Bridges is located on Jeju Island, a volcanic island South of Korea's continental landmass, and rated one of the finest courses in Asia. It was designed by Ronald Fream and David Dale, and opened in 2001.

The creators said they wanted a “Scottish Highlands” type track. The course winds its way through rolling pineland, featuring valleys, ponds, creeks and bunkers, undulating fairways, numerous doglegs, and is a test of accuracy over power. A score of just nine under par was enough to top the leaderboard after four rounds last year.

Story of last year Justin Thomas and Marc Leishman tied at the top of the board, before Thomas triumphed when Leishman found water in the playoff.

Weather forecast Sunny throughout, with light to moderate breezes.

Type of player suited to challenge This layout favours those with strong course-management skills. The fairways are undulating, with various hazards to punish the errant, and the greens are too. Accuracy on approach is most important to set up realistic birdie chances on the slopey dancefloors.

Key attribute Accuracy

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