Classic action, colorful characters light up PGA’s three-stop swing
The PGA Tour’s recent annual Asian odyssey served up a marvelous treat for golf fans in Malaysia, South Korea and China, serving up edge-of-the-seat action for connoisseurs and newcomers to the game alike during an exciting stretch which officials believe can help inspire a new generation of golfers from the continent.
Three great tournaments delivered three worthy champions and each provided inspiring tales that will have resonated with wannabe golfers.
Golf is a sport that rewards hard work, relentless preparation, extreme attention to detail and a never-say-die attitude — attributes that were clearly identifiable in each of the champions of the three events.
The CIMB Classic, celebrating its eighth edition at TPC Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, was hailed as a battle of the young guns with two-time defending champion and newly crowned FedExCup winner, Justin Thomas, 24, headlining the $7 million showpiece alongside Japanese star Hideki Matsuyama, 25.
Both men are the epitome of today’s generation of top players — lean, mean and fearless. They arrived in Malaysia as hot favorites after collecting a combined 11 tournament victories over the preceding 12 months.
Much was expected from Thomas and Matsuyama, ranked third and fourth in the world respectively, but by the end of a thrilling week it was a 41-year-old veteran who was laughing all the way to the bank following an emphatic victory in Southeast Asia’s lone PGA Tour event.
Meet Pat Perez, a self-confessed happy-go-lucky player who opposes fitness and diet regimes in favor of enjoying life to the fullest.
Sporting cool high-top golf shoes and long, flowing locks, the colorful American is reminiscent of a 1980s rock star.
“I’m not going to change anything,” said Perez after romping to a stunning fourshot triumph at the CIMB Classic.
“I’m still not going to work out. I’ll still have a bad diet and I’m going to enjoy myself. I don’t get ahead of myself, I don’t look in the past, I’m just kind of doing it.
“I think I’m the last guy that expected to win, to be honest with you. I did not think I was going to win.”
Just over 20 months ago, Perez, an Arizona native of Mexican descent, was sidelined with a shoulder injury. When he began his comeback, the gremlins in his mind planted seeds of doubt that he could mix it with the big boys, but he received a timely boost through a sponsor’s invitation to feature in the 2016 CIMB Classic.
After a tied-33rd finish at that tournament, Perez went on to post a top-10 in his next start before going on to lift the OHL Classic at Mayakoba in Mexico for his second career PGA Tour title.
That victory sparked Perez to 15th position in last season’s final FedExCup standings, with his subsequent victory at the CIMB Classic validation for his resilience and plucky spirit.
As Perez earned the plaudits in Malaysia, Thomas headed to the inaugural CJ Cup very much low on gas.
An opening 63 was the rejuvenation that he needed on Jeju Island, known as the Hawaii of Korea, but buffeting winds over the next three rounds in the nation’s first official PGA Tour tournament ensured a dogfight ensued.
Running purely on adrenaline, Thomas, the 2017 FedExCup champion and PGA Tour player of the year, clawed his way into a playoff with Australian Marc Leishman thanks to a closing birdie in regulation before making a birdie on the second extra hole to land his seventh career PGA Tour triumph. “It’s an unbelievable honor to win the inaugural CJ Cup. It’s a great way to cap off the year. I’m really excited to do nothing for a while,” said a relieved Thomas.
The likable American lifted a trophy which features the names of every player in the field in the Korean language. As the tournament champion, his name was etched in gold.
“The trophy is really cool. It’s very unique. I’m glad my name is in gold so I know where it is,” he said with a smile.
The Asian swing concluded with the WGC-HSBC Champions in Shanghai with world No 1 Dustin Johnson bidding to become the first man to hold three World Golf Championships titles in the same calendar year.
Following rounds of 68, 63 and 68, the big-hitting American opened up a commanding six-shot lead heading into the last day of Asia’s lone WGC event.
However, 2016 US Open winner Johnson was uncharacteristically blown off course on a blustery Sunday, with a disappointing 77 ruining his hopes of making history.
England’s Justin Rose seized advantage of that final-day mishap, firing a glorious 67 which included five birdies on his back nine to win by two shots from Brooks Koepka, Henrik Stenson and Johnson.
It matched the third-best comeback victory in PGA Tour history as Rose had started the final round eight shots off the lead.
“The beginning of the day, I was playing for second,” conceded Rose, the 2013 US Open and 2016 Olympic champion.
“It’s the kind of day you certainly don’t expect. It’s the kind of day you hope for, dream for, but a lot of things need to go your way in order for a day like today to happen — coming from eight shots behind, especially competing against a player of DJ’s caliber.”