Justin Thomas wins CIMB Classic
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Justin Thomas
won the CIMB Classic on Sunday for his first US PGA Tour title, holing a
6-foot par putt on the final hole for a one-stroke victory over Adam Scott.
The
22-year-old American closed with a 6-under 66 for a tournament-record
26-under 262 total at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Thomas
had a double bogey on the 14th after hitting into the water, then
rallied with three consecutive birdies to take the outright lead.
Scott had an eagle and seven birdies in his closing 63. Kevin Na and Brendan Steele tied for third at 24-under. Na had a 67, and Steele shot 68.
Thomas opened with rounds of 68, 61 and 67 to share the third-round lead with Steele.
Inverness-born Russell Knox finished T21, the leading British and Irish-born player in the field, on 14-under-par 274
ASIAN TOUR NEWS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
TERRIFIC THOMAS EDGES SCOTT TO SECURE MAIDEN WIN AT CIMB CLASSIC
Kuala
Lumpur, November 1: American Justin Thomas underlined his status as a
rising star when he claimed an impressive one-stroke win at the US$7
million CIMB Classic with a tournament record of 26-under-par
262 on Sunday.
The 22-year-old Thomas, the joint third round leader, closed with a six-under-par 66 which included a double bogey on the 14th hole to edge out Major champion Adam Scott of Australia, who signed
off with a sparkling 63, for his first PGA TOUR title.
Co-overnight
leader Brendan Steele of the United States shot a 68 to settle for tied
third place alongside countryman Kevin Na who claimed his third
straight top-three finish after posting a 67 in the CIMB
Classic which is sanctioned by the PGA TOUR and Asian Tour.
Japanese
star Hideki Matsuyama was the best placed Asian in fifth place after a
67 while Anirban Lahiri of India finished tied 21st at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club’s West Course to put
one hand on the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit crown.
Thomas,
a former All-American and a close friend of world number two Jordan
Spieth, overcame a wobble on 14 with three successive birdies to take a
one-shot lead into the par five 18th hole with
Scott already in the clubhouse.
He ran
his first putt five feet past the hole to give the Aussie a glimmer of
hope of a play-off but then coolly converted his par putt to pocket a
cool US$1.26 million champion’s cheque. Thomas is expected
to break into the world’s top-30 with his career breakthrough victory.
“It
was really nice to make those birdies after that double on 14. I'm
probably more proud of that than winning the tournament. The only thing
you could do is what I did, just laugh it off. It was that bad
of a shot in the circumstance,” said Thomas of his mishit approach
shot.
“I
told myself I had four holes left, that I was leading at that point,
fortunately, and if I was tied or one back when that happened it would
have been a huge deal. I really felt very calm and great all day.
“The
only time I really was nervous and jittery was on 18 probably hitting
that bunker shot. And obviously the putt, if you couldn't tell by how
far past I hit it (first putt).”
Thomas,
playing in his second season on the PGA TOUR, became the seventh
consecutive golfer in their 20s to win on the PGA TOUR which underlined
the youth movement in America.
“I expected to win a lot sooner than this, honestly. I always had high expectations for
myself and I definitely played well enough last year in some events to
win. I understand that wining is difficult and it doesn't happen that
often,” he said.
Scott,
who was four shots off the pace at the start of the day, charged into
contention with a front nine 31 highlighted by an eagle on the third
hole before returning with four birdies on the homeward stretch.
He had a putt for eagle on 18 but made a poor attempt to settle for
birdie.
“It
was a great round of golf. I played great but they got off to a faster
start and I chased hard but its’ probably not enough,” said Scott. “It
was disappointing not to hit a better putt (on 18). It was
a really big breaking putt and I completely didn't trust it. It wasn't
even close. But I threw everything I could at it.”
He
tipped his cap to Thomas, especially with the way the young American
handled himself when the pressure was on at the back nine. At one stage
during the early part of the final round, six golfers were tied
for the lead.
“These
kids playing out on TOUR now are so good, they keep learning from the
guys before, and they're like experienced at 22. It's another indication
of how good a shape and how strong a shape the game's in
with these young guys really taking it to everyone,” said Scott.
American
Na, the Asian Tour’s Rookie of the Year in 2002 and now firmly
established on the PGA TOUR, was disappointed not to cross the finishing
line after coming close in the last three weeks. He was five
under through 10 holes but parred his last eight holes.
“I
gave it my best shot. It just keeps getting more and more disappointing,
because three weeks in a row I'm right there. But you got to take the
positive. I'm playing the best golf of my life,” said Na, who
was seeking a second PGA TOUR win.
Matsuyama
fired five birdies with no bogey to end four shots behind the new
champion. “I'm disappointed I didn't make a few more birdies, because I
needed a couple more to win. I was trying my best but just
came up short. The other guys, they just played better than I did. I
did my best and really no regrets,” said the world number 15.
ALL THE FINAL TOTALS
PAR 288 (4x72)
| 5 | 1 | |
| -22 | F | -5 | 65 | 66 | 68 | 67 | 266 | 11 | T41 | 30 | |
| 6 | 2 | |
| -21 | F | -4 | 70 | 65 | 64 | 68 | 267 | 19 | T76 | 57 | |
| T7 | 1 | |
| -19 | F | -3 | 62 | 69 | 69 | 69 | 269 | 18 | T52 | 34 | |
| T7 | 3 | |
| -19 | F | -2 | 70 | 63 | 66 | 70 | 269 | 28 | T96 | 68 | |
| 9 | 7 | |
| -18 | F | -6 | 71 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 270 | 10 | T21 | 11 | |
| T10 | 10 | |
| -17 | F | -6 | 66 | 72 | 67 | 66 | 271 | 22 | T36 | 14 | |
| T10 | 6 | |
| -17 | F | -5 | 70 | 66 | 68 | 67 | 271 | 44 | 110 | 66 | |
| T10 | -- | |
| -17 | F | -3 | 68 | 68 | 66 | 69 | 271 | 45 | T121 | 76 | |
| T10 | -- | |
| -17 | F | -3 | 67 | 69 | 66 | 69 | 271 | 13 | T19 | 6 | |
| T14 | 8 | |
| -16 | F | -6 | 71 | 66 | 69 | 66 | 272 | 17 | T21 | 4 | |
| T14 | -- | |
| -16 | F | -3 | 70 | 68 | 65 | 69 | 272 | 7 | 5 | 2 | |
| T14 | 4 | |
| -16 | F | -2 | 73 | 65 | 64 | 70 | 272 | 56 | T121 | 65 | |
| T17 | 5 | |
| -15 | F | -5 | 67 | 70 | 69 | 67 | 273 | 60 | T121 | 61 | |
| T17 | 7 | |
| -15 | F | -1 | 68 | 64 | 70 | 71 | 273 | 46 | T96 | 50 | |
| T17 | 3 | |
| -15 | F | -2 | 66 | 71 | 66 | 70 | 273 | 9 | T8 | 1 | |
| T17 | 13 | |
| -15 | F | 2 | 67 | 64 | 68 | 74 | 273 | 24 | 32 | 8 | |
| T21 | 1 | |
| -14 | F | -4 | 68 | 66 | 72 | 68 | 274 | T66 | T121 | 55 | |
| T21 | 5 | |
| -14 | F | -2 | 70 | 67 | 67 | 70 | 274 | T66 | T121 | 55 | |
| T24 | 8 | |
| -13 | F | -5 | 70 | 69 | 69 | 67 | 275 | 30 | T41 | 11 | |
| T24 | 2 | |
| -13 | F | -3 | 70 | 67 | 69 | 69 | 275 | T70 | T121 | 51 | |
| T27 | 10 | |
| -12 | F | -5 | 69 | 69 | 71 | 67 | 276 | 26 | 34 | 8 | |
| T27 | 10 | |
| -12 | F* | -5 | 67 | 70 | 72 | 67 | 276 | -- | -- | -- | |
| T29 | 8 | |
| -11 | F* | -4 | 71 | 70 | 68 | 68 | 277 | 42 | T64 | 22 | |
| T29 | 8 | |
| -11 | F* | -4 | 70 | 65 | 74 | 68 | 277 | 37 | T52 | 15 | |
| T29 | 3 | |
| -11 | F | -3 | 69 | 69 | 70 | 69 | 277 | 69 | T103 | 34 | |
| T29 | -- | |
| -11 | F | -2 | 68 | 70 | 69 | 70 | 277 | 21 | 23 | 2 | |
| T29 | 19 | |
| -11 | F* | -6 | 71 | 70 | 70 | 66 | 277 | 79 | T121 | 42 | |
| T29 | 9 | |
| -11 | F | E | 70 | 67 | 68 | 72 | 277 | -- | -- | -- | |
| T35 | 2 | |
| -10 | F | -3 | 69 | 69 | 71 | 69 | 278 | 58 | T89 | 31 | |
| T35 | 24 | |
| -10 | F* | -7 | 69 | 75 | 69 | 65 | 278 | 84 | T121 | 37 | |
| T37 | 8 | |
| -9 | F* | -3 | 66 | 72 | 72 | 69 | 279 | T92 | T121 | 29 | |
| T37 | 11 | |
| -9 | F* | -4 | 67 | 71 | 73 | 68 | 279 | T92 | T121 | 29 | |
| T37 | 15 | |
| -9 | F | 1 | 71 | 65 | 70 | 73 | 279 | 43 | T52 | 9 | |
| T37 | 15 | |
| -9 | F* | -5 | 70 | 70 | 72 | 67 | 279 | 53 | 75 | 22 | |
| T37 | 15 | |
| -9 | F* | -5 | 70 | 70 | 72 | 67 | 279 | 36 | T36 | -- | |
| T37 | 21 | |
| -9 | F | 3 | 66 | 68 | 70 | 75 | 279 | 90 | 111 | 21 | |
| T43 | 11 | |
| -8 | F | E | 70 | 71 | 67 | 72 | 280 | T99 | T121 | 22 | |
| T43 | 14 | |
| -8 | F | 1 | 70 | 66 | 71 | 73 | 280 | 23 | T16 | 7 | |
| T43 | 5 | |
| -8 | F* | -3 | 71 | 71 | 69 | 69 | 280 | T99 | T121 | 22 | |
| T43 | 9 | |
| -8 | F* | -4 | 70 | 70 | 72 | 68 | 280 | 29 | 27 | 2 | |
| T47 | 10 | |
| -7 | F | E | 71 | 67 | 71 | 72 | 281 | T104 | T121 | 17 | |
| T47 | 15 | |
| -7 | F | 1 | 70 | 70 | 68 | 73 | 281 | T47 | T52 | 5 | |
| T47 | 15 | |
| -7 | F | 1 | 66 | 70 | 72 | 73 | 281 | T104 | T121 | 17 | |
| T47 | 10 | |
| -7 | F* | E | 67 | 68 | 74 | 72 | 281 | 32 | 28 | 4 | |
| T47 | 5 | |
| -7 | F* | -3 | 71 | 74 | 67 | 69 | 281 | 55 | T64 | 9 | |
| T47 | 12 | |
| -7 | F* | -4 | 74 | 70 | 69 | 68 | 281 | T47 | T52 | 5 | |
| T53 | 8 | |
| -6 | F* | E | 69 | 69 | 72 | 72 | 282 | T114 | T121 | 7 | |
| T53 | 31 | |
| -6 | F | 4 | 69 | 70 | 67 | 76 | 282 | T114 | T121 | 7 | |
| T53 | 11 | |
| -6 | F* | -5 | 69 | 69 | 77 | 67 | 282 | 54 | T52 | 2 | |
| T56 | 11 | |
| -5 | F* | 1 | 69 | 73 | 68 | 73 | 283 | 102 | 95 | 7 | |
| T56 | 4 | |
| -5 | F* | -1 | 68 | 72 | 72 | 71 | 283 | 119 | T112 | 7 | |
| T56 | 4 | |
| -5 | F* | -1 | 75 | 68 | 69 | 71 | 283 | T122 | T121 | 1 | |
| T56 | 10 | |
| -5 | F* | -5 | 72 | 70 | 74 | 67 | 283 | -- | -- | -- | |
| T56 | 10 | |
| -5 | F* | -5 | 72 | 76 | 68 | 67 | 283 | -- | -- | -- | |
| 63 | 11 | |
| -4 | F* | E | 71 | 69 | 72 | 72 | 284 | 127 | T121 | 6 | |
| T64 | 27 | |
| -3 | F* | 4 | 76 | 66 | 67 | 76 | 285 | 57 | T41 | 16 | |
| T64 | 5 | |
| -3 | F* | E | 72 | 69 | 72 | 72 | 285 | T130 | T121 | 9 | |
| T64 | 8 | |
| -3 | F* | -6 | 71 | 72 | 76 | 66 | 285 | -- | -- | -- | |
| T68 | 9 | |
| -2 | F* | 1 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 73 | 286 | -- | -- | -- | |
| T68 | 4 | |
| -2 | F* | -1 | 71 | 71 | 73 | 71 | 286 | T125 | T103 | 22 | |
| T68 | 2 | |
| -2 | F* | -2 | 73 | 72 | 71 | 70 | 286 | 96 | T76 | 20 | |
| 71 | 1 | |
| E | F* | -3 | 73 | 73 | 73 | 69 | 288 | 134 | 119 | 15 | |
| 72 | 6 | |
| 1 | F* | 1 | 72 | 72 | 72 | 73 | 289 | 137 | T121 | 16 | |
| 73 | 1 | |
| 3 | F* | -1 | 72 | 74 | 74 | 71 | 291 | -- | -- | -- | |
| 74 | 1 | |
| 5 | F* | E | 74 | 73 | 74 | 72 | 293 | -- | -- | -- | |
| T75 | 4 | |
| 7 | F* | 5 | 71 | 77 | 70 | 77 | 295 | -- | -- | -- | |
| T75 | -- | |
| 7 | F* | 2 | 75 | 74 | 72 | 74 | 295 | -- | -- | -- | |
| 77 | -- | |
| 10 | F* | -6 | 80 | 74 | 78 | 66 | 298 | T141 | T121 | 20 | |
| WD | -- | |
| -- | -- | -- | 73 | 68 | 40 | -- | 181 | 146 | T121 | 25 | |
Labels: US PGA TOUR
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