Justin Thomas aims for third victory at CIMB Classic

Kuala Lumpur – American golf star Justin Thomas headlines the US $7 million CIMB Classic on Thursday, looking to become the first golfer to win the tournament three times at a venue which he holds the lowest scoring average. Thomas, the 2017 FedExCup champion, won his first two PGA TOUR titles at TPC Kuala Lumpur’s West course in 2015 and 2016 before finishing T17 last year as he watched Pat Perez triumph by four shots. Coming off another strong campaign in the recently concluded 2017-18 PGA TOUR Season where he won three times, the 25-year-old is aiming to launch his 2018-19 campaign off on a winning note on the West course, which recently underwent a renovation programme, where he is a staggering 60 under par over 12 rounds. “It’s just a place that I’ve obviously played well. I’m comfortable. I think being a little bit of a longer hitter you have an advantage, but I mean, the fact of the matter is that I’ve just played well the years I played here.  I think my wedge game is a strong suit of mine and you have a lot of wedges out here, so I’ve been able to take advantage of that,â€� said Thomas. Now a nine-time PGA TOUR winner, a major champion and even a World No. 1 for a brief period in May, Thomas looked back at how the early wins in Malaysia provided the launchpad to his blossoming career. “This is always going to be a special place to me. This is always going to be the place I got my first PGA TOUR victory and that’s very, very special. Every time I look at that trophy in my office at home, it brings back a lot of great memories, anytime I see videos or clips of it.  It was a very instrumental part of my career, for sureâ€� said the world No. 4. “Anytime you win three times in a season, it’s still a pretty good season. Obviously not winning a major was a big difference and not winning the FedExCup, but I played plenty well enough last season to win the same amount of times. You know, when you win that many times in a year, you have a lot of things go your way.â€�  While Thomas will be shooting for a hat-trick at the CIMB Classic, which is the only PGA TOUR tournament in Southeast Asia and the first of three PGA TOUR tournaments in Asia this month, title holder Perez will be hoping to maintain a trend of winners winning in back-to-back years. American Ryan Moore won the CIMB Classic in 2013 and 2014 before Thomas enjoyed his double here in 2015 and 2016. “I love coming here, my caddy loves coming here. We’ve had fun ever since the first time we came a lot of years ago. I love this course, I love the greens. I love the greens at Mayakoba, they’re the exact same and I’ve won both of them. So I get confident with the putter, it’s a big thing for me,â€� said Perez. “I think over the last five years this tournament has really become one where the fields have gotten better and better. I think guys are excited to come over here. I’m not surprised that the strength of field is getting better. We’ve got a great sponsor in CIMB and unbelievable tournament host, Todd Rhinehart (PGA TOUR Vice President and Executive Director), so I’m not surprised.â€� Horschel, the 2014 FedExCup Champion, arrived for the CIMB Classic in top form after finishing fifth in the 2017-18 FedExCup final standings following a runner-up outing in the TOUR Championship, the season finale. It culminated a strong season for Horschel, who finished T3 in two other FedExCup Playoff events. A five-time PGA TOUR winner, Horschel will play in his third CIMB Classic following appearances in 2013 and 2014 where he finished T11 and T37 respectively. “I haven’t been back in about four years, so the course I knew had always played really a lot of low scores.  To see the golf course with the new Bermuda grass, the course is in unbelievable shape.  It’s going to play a lot tougher. It’s going to be a great test of golf,â€� Horschel said. India’s Anirban Lahiri, the last man to get into the elite field on Sunday, is hoping to contend once again in the CIMB Classic. He finished T10 and T3 in the last two years here and also won the Malaysian Open on the West course in 2015. “I’m quite relieved actually,â€� said Lahiri, now an established PGA TOUR member. “I’m going to familiar territory, I play well here, I know what to do, I know the golf course, the weather, how far the ball’s going to go, pin positions.â€� Already a two-time International team member, Lahiri is keen ensure he makes the Presidents Cup again for December, 2019 under the captaincy of Ernie Els who is also in the CIMB Classic field. “I know how badly he wants us to win the Cup back. It rubs off on all of us. Any Presidents Cup is special, but this time we’re going to be playing on home ground, on home turf rather, and I think it’s going to be different. It’s very, very important.â€� Other stars competing in the CIMB Classic include Europe’s Ryder Cup star Paul Casey, last week’s winner Kevin Tway, World Golf Hall of Famers, Davis Love III and Ernie Els, Brand Snedeker, Xander Schauffele and Keegan Bradley, last year’s runner-up here. The CIMB Classic will celebrate its ninth edition this year, and is the second tournament of the new 2018-19 PGA TOUR Season. The PGA TOUR-sanctioned CIMB Classic features a limited field of 78 players comprising of the top 60 available players from the 2017-18 FedExCup points list, eight sponsor exemptions and the top-10 available players from the Asian Tour.

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1st Round 3 Balls – Pierceson Coody / Parker Coody / J. Bridgeman
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Parker Coody+145
Jacob Bridgeman+150
Pierceson Coody+250
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Meissner / R. McCormack / C. Hammer
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Mac Meissner+140
Cole Hammer+190
Ryan McCormick+200
Ford Championship
Type: Winner – Status: OPEN
Nelly Korda+900
Lydia Ko+1800
Brooke Henderson+2000
Hyo Joo Kim+2000
Minjee Lee+2000
Ruoning Yin+2200
Alison Lee+2500
Ayaka Furue+2500
Celine Boutier+2500
Lilia Vu+2500
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1st Round 3 Balls – D. Skinns / T. Whitney / S. Bennett
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Sam Bennett+160
David Skinns+180
Tom Whitney+190
1st Round 3 Balls – N. Xiong / M. Greyserman / P. Fishburn
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Max Greyserman+140
Norman Xiong+185
Patrick Fishburn+210
1st Round 3 Balls – T. Olesen / J. Highsmith / D. Van Der Walt
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Thorbjorn Olesen+105
Joe Highsmith+180
Dawie Van Der Walt+300
Tournament Match-Up – T. Olesen vs B. Horschel
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Billy Horschel-145
Thorbjorn Olesen+110
1st Round 3 Balls – L. Maguire / X. Lin / B. Tardy
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Xiyu Lin+130
Leona Maguire+160
Bailey Tardy+260
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Lee / B. Henderson / R. Yin
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Brooke Henderson+170
Minjee Lee+175
Ruoning Yin+180
1st Round 3 Balls – C. Hull / L. Thompson / A. Lee
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Alison Lee+145
Charley Hull+160
Lexi Thompson+230
1st Round 3 Balls – B. Cauley / D. Lipsky / R. Sloan
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Bud Cauley+135
David Lipsky+185
Roger Sloan+220
1st Round 3 Balls – R. Palmer / M. Kim / B. Taylor
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Michael Kim+130
Ryan Palmer+160
Ben Taylor+260
1st Round Match-Up – M. Kim v J. Suh
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Michael Kim-125
Justin Suh+105
1st Round 3 Balls – J. Bramlett / D. Thompson / S. Gutschewski
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Davis Thompson+125
Joseph Bramlett+135
Scott Gutschewski+350
1st Round 3 Balls – H. Norlander / J. Suh / C. Yuan
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Carl Yuan+160
Justin Suh+160
Henrik Norlander+200
Tournament Match-Up – J. Suh v C. Yuan
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Justin Suh-120
Carl Yuan-110
1st Round Match-Up – D. Thompson v D. Berger
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Davis Thompson-125
Daniel Berger+105
1st Round Match-Up – J. Bramlett v V. Whaley
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Joseph Bramlett-135
Vince Whaley+115
1st Round 3 Balls – P. Kizzire / R. Moore / C. Tarren
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Ryan Moore+130
Patton Kizzire+190
Callum Tarren+220
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Trainer / V. Whaley / M. Schmid
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Matti Schmid+150
Vince Whaley+175
Martin Trainer+200
1st Round 3 Balls – D. Berger / J.B. Holmes / S. Stallings
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Scott Stallings+125
Daniel Berger+130
J B Holmes+375
1st Round 3 Balls – W. Clark / T. Finau / S. Woo Kim
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Wyndham Clark+135
Tony Finau+190
Si Woo Kim+200
1st Round Match-Up – W. Clark vs S. Theegala
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Sahith Theegala-120
Wyndham Clark+100
1st Round Match-Up – J. Day vs T. Finau
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Jason Day-110
Tony Finau-110
1st Round Match-Up – S.W. Kim vs A. Noren
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Si Woo Kim-120
Alex Noren+100
1st Round 3 Balls – V. Norrman / D. Riley / C. Ramey
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Vincent Norrman+160
Chad Ramey+180
Davis Riley+180
1st Round 3 Balls – S. Theegala / J. Day / P. Harrington
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Sahith Theegala+120
Jason Day+135
Padraig Harrington+375
Tournament Match-Up – S. Theegala vs J. Day
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Sahith Theegala-145
Jason Day+110
1st Round Match-Up – A. Smalley v V. Norrman
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Alex Smalley-110
Vincent Norrman-110
1st Round 3 Balls – M. Hughes / B. Horschel / T. Hoge
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Mackenzie Hughes+170
Tom Hoge+170
Billy Horschel+185
1st Round 3 Balls – K. Kitayama / J.J. Spaun / C. Champ
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Kurt Kitayama+130
Cameron Champ+180
J J Spaun+240
1st Round Match-Up – T. Hoge vs K. Kitayama
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Kurt Kitayama-110
Tom Hoge-110
1st Round Match-Up – P. Rodgers vs M. Hughes
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Mackenzie Hughes-110
Patrick Rodgers-110
1st Round 3 Balls – H. Buckley / R. Shelton / T. Alexander
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Robby Shelton+160
Tyson Alexander+175
Hayden Buckley+190
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Patrick Rodgers+115
Alex Smalley+170
Jimmy Walker+280
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Sam Ryder+145
Nate Lashley+160
Zac Blair+230
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Alex Noren+100
Jhonattan Vegas+230
Adam Long+260
1st Round Match-Up – B. Silverman v N. Lashley
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Nate Lashley-115
Ben Silverman-105
1st Round 3 Balls – C. Phillips / C. Gotterup / H. Springer
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Chandler Phillips+160
Chris Gotterup+170
Hayden Springer+190
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Ben Silverman+115
Paul Barjon+210
Kris Ventura+230
Tournament Match-Up – B. Silverman vs C. Gotterup
Type: Tournament Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Ben Silverman-115
Chris Gotterup-115
1st Round Match-Up – C. Phillips v C. Gotterup
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Chris Gotterup-115
Chandler Phillips-105
1st Round 3 Balls – E. Barnes / T. Crowe / W. Furr
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Erik Barnes+145
Trace Crowe+185
Wilson Furr+200
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Adrien Dumont de Chassart+175
Kevin Dougherty+175
Nicholas Lindheim+175
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Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Victor Perez+120
Harrison Endycott+185
Emilio Gonzalez+250
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Robert MacIntyre+110
Rafael Campos+170
Raul Pereda+320
1st Round Match-Up – V. Perez v R. MacIntyre
Type: 1st Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Victor Perez-115
Robert MacIntyre-105
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Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Jorge Campillo+140
Rico Hoey+140
Rhein Gibson+275
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Yuka Saso+130
A Lim Kim+170
Anna Nordqvist+250
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Jenny Shin+130
Maja Stark+200
Jennifer Kupcho+210
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Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Ayaka Furue+170
Lilia Vu+175
Nasa Hataoka+180
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Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Nelly Korda+130
Lydia Ko+190
Celine Boutier+220
1st Round 3 Balls – L. Grant / H.J. Kim / R. Zhang
Type: 1st Round 3 Balls – Status: OPEN
Hyo Joo Kim+170
Linn Grant+175
Rose Zhang+180
2nd Round Match-Up – S. Bairstow v A Fitzpatrick
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Sam Bairstow-115
Alex Fitzpatrick-105
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Luiten v R. Cabrera Bello
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Joost Luiten-120
Rafa Cabrera Bello-110
2nd Round Match-Up – J. Veerman v M. Kieffer
Type: 2nd Round Match-Up – Status: OPEN
Johannes Veerman-115
Maximillian Kieffer-115
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James Morrison-115
Tom Lewis-115
2nd Round Match-Up – M. Kawamura v A. Sullivan
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Andy Sullivan-120
Masahiro Kawamura-110
2nd Round Match-Up – C. Jarvis v M. Penge
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Casey Jarvis-115
Marco Penge-115
2nd Round Match-Up – B. Stone v G. Migliozzi
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Brandon Stone-115
Guido Migliozzi-115
2nd Round Match-Up – S. Sharma v A. Otaegui
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Adrian Otaegui-120
Shubankar Sharma-110
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Steve Stricker+350
Steven Alker+650
Miguel Angel Jimenez+1100
Jerry Kelly+1200
Stephen Ames+1400
Ernie Els+1600
Alex Cejka+1800
Brian Gay+2000
KJ Choi+2500
Kevin Sutherland+2500
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Jon Rahm+225
Rory McIlroy+225
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Wyndham Clark+450
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Scottie Scheffler+450
Rory McIlroy+1100
Jon Rahm+1200
Brooks Koepka+1800
Jordan Spieth+2000
Xander Schauffele+2000
Hideki Matsuyama+2500
Joaquin Niemann+2500
Justin Thomas+2500
Ludvig Aberg+2500
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Scottie Scheffler+700
Jon Rahm+1000
Rory McIlroy+1000
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Xander Schauffele+2000
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Scottie Scheffler+700
Rory McIlroy+800
Jon Rahm+900
Viktor Hovland+1000
Cameron Smith+1600
Brooks Koepka+1800
Cameron Young+2000
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Ludvig Aberg+2000
Patrick Cantlay+2000
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Scottie Scheffler+800
Jon Rahm+1000
Rory McIlroy+1000
Viktor Hovland+1100
Brooks Koepka+2000
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USA-140
Europe+135
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