Thomas credits CIMB Classic win for solid season
KUALA LUMPUR: World No. 4 Justin Thomas (pic) can’t seem to stop winning ever since he began the season by bagging his second straight CIMB Classic title last October.
The 24-year-old, a winner of five US PGA Tour tournaments this season – including a maiden major title (PGA Championship – capped his astonishing run by adding the FedEx Cup title to his name on Sunday.
Although he finished runner-up to compatriot Xander Schauffele at the just-concluded Tour Championship, it was still enough for him to win the season-long FedEx Cup race and the US$ 10mil (RM42mil) jackpot.
After successfully defending the CIMB Classic crown for only his second PGA Tour win, Thomas went to clinch four more titles – the Tournament of Champions and Sony Open in January, the PGA Championship last month and the Dell Technologies Championship two weeks ago. These victories proved crucial in him winning the FedEx Cup trophy.
Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth are among those who have won the FedEx Cup since its inception in 2007.
“It’s been an unbelievable season,” said Thomas.
“It’s awesome because I feel like I played so well this year. I was consistent.”
Thomas was quick to credit the CIMB Classic for kick-starting his season.
He hailed his victory at SouthEast Asia’s only FedEx Cup event in the early season as a “huge achievement”.
“Malaysia was great and to win from four back was awesome. It was a great week, a huge achievement,” said Thomas, who can etch his name in the record books should he claim the CIMB Classic title for the third straight year. Only 17 players have achieved the feat since the PGA Tour was founded in 1929.
Before that, Thomas will be donning Team USA colours in the Presidents Cup against the Internationals this week.
The CIMB Classic will also give Malaysian golf fans the chance to watch Schauffele in action here for the first time.
Just 23, he became the first-ever Tour rookie to win the prestigious Tour Championship, which is exclusive to the top 30 players of the season.