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Defending champion Thomas shares lead at CIMB Classic

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA >> Justin Thomas began his title defense with an 8-under 64 at the CIMB Classic on Thursday, making nine birdies and a bogey to move into a three-way tie with Keegan Bradley and Derek Fathauer for the first-round lead.

Thomas, who won his first PGA Tour title here last year in a tournament-record total 26-under-par 262, said he felt at ease in the opening round of the PGA Tour-sanctioned event.

“If there’s such a thing as an easy 8-under, it was,” Thomas said. “I wedged it great. I took advantage of the first three par 5s.

“I was just very comfortable and hit it in there close a couple of times and made a couple putts, but it was a pretty low-stress day.”

Bradley had six birdies on the front nine and an eagle at the par-5 10th but then had two bogeys on his next three holes before recovering with birdies at the 16th and 17th.

England’s Paul Casey was one stroke behind the leaders at 7 under.