Justin Thomas eyes 3rd consecutive CIMB Classic title

KUALA LUMPUR: Defending champion Justin Thomas have set his sights on winning the CIMB Classic Golf Championship for the third straight time when the tournament tees off for four days starting October 12 at the Tournament Players Club (TPC) Kuala Lumpur in Bukit Kiara.

The 24-year-old American who secured back-to-back victories in the prestigious tournament in 2015 and 2016, revealed that he was happy to return and defend his title.

“It was obviously special being able to come back and defend the title last year. Having won my first PGA Tour title in Malaysia (in 2015), it’s got a special place in my heart and to go back-to back last year was awesome,” he was quoted as saying in the statement issued by CIMB Classic.

The native from Kentucky who rose to number four following his breakthrough this season, pointed out that he enjoyed playing at TPC where the greens are in good condition and not too windy.

“I somehow have a comforting feeling out there and I seem to do all right. The scores are really low over there. There’s not very much wind and I think why I played so well over there is because I have a lot of wedges and I feel that my wedge game was good.

“That’s why I’m able to make so many birdies because I can roughly get a few kick ins per day and it just seems to be a place where I play well,” added Thomas who joined an exclusive club of under-25 players that includes Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Jordan Spieth, to win five or more times during a season.

The CIMB classic, now in its eighth year, will feature a 78player elite field, comprising 60 from the PGA Tour, 10 from the Asian Tour and eight sponsor’s exemptions with the player commitment deadline for the tournament set for September 20.

Malaysia will have two representatives – Danny Chia, the winner of the CIMB National Championship (formerly the SapuraKencana National Qualifier) last month and also the highest ranked Malaysian golfer in the Official World Golf Ranking as of October 2.