Thomas seeks 3-peat in Kuala Lumpur event
Justin Thomas collected the Jack Nicklaus Award as the PGA Tour player of the year a couple of days before heading to Malaysia in a bid to win his third successive CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur.
Little wonder then the two-time defending champion was slightly off his game Thursday in the first round, managing only a 2under 70 to sit six strokes behind leader Cameron Smith of Australia.
Thomas barely has had time to catch his breath after winning the FedEx Cup and playing in the Presidents Cup. He won his first tour title at this event two years ago. He successfully defended it a year ago, and has had a transformative 2017 in which he won five titles and his first major, the PGA Championship.
He’s aiming to be the first player to win the same tournament three years in a row since Steve Stricker at the John Deer Classic ( 2009-11).
Home favorite on top
Defending champion and home favorite Francesco Molinari was among six players who shared a onestroke lead after the opening round of the Italian Open in Monza. This is Rolex Series event, which has an increased purse of $7 million this year as part of the buildup to the 2022 Ryder Cup outside Rome.
He chipped in for birdie at No. 18, his ninth hole of the day, and finished with nine birdies and two bogeys.
“I started pretty much where I left off last year,” Molinari said.
With no ticket fees, Molinari had a lot of fan support.
“It’s great to see the crowds,” he said. “I think there’s a nice buzz around the place and I’m happy and proud to be part of it.”
Park eyes rookie award
Sung Hyun Park birdied her final two holes for a 6-under 66 and a share of the lead in the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championship in Incheon, South Korea, as the South Korean bolstered her bid to win LPGA rookie of the year andplayer of the year.
Park, who won the U.S. Women’s Open this year for her first major and is No. 2 in the world, was playing in the featured group at Sky 72 Golf & Resort comprising the top three players in the world ranking. Top-ranked So Yeon Ryu opened with a 72, while LexiThompson had a 69.
“I am off to a really good start,” Park said. “I’m feeling really good. My only hope at this point is that I maintain this. My putting was really strong today, especially I was holing a lot of my mid-range putts. So I’m quite satisfied with that.”
Park, 24, won six times in 2016 on the Korean LPGA. In her first season on the American tour, she already has won the U.S. Women’s Open and the Canadian Women’s Open. She leads the LPGA money list and is No. 3 on the points list of player of the year behind Ryu and Thompson.