Leishman breezes to victory in CIMB Classic; Chun wins first LPGA title
KUALALUMPUR: Australia’s Marc Leishman unleashed an early birdie barrage as he romped home by ive shots to claim top place in the $7 million CIMB Classic on Sunday.
At the par-72 TPC Kuala Lumpur, Leishman closed with a seven-under par 65 to finish the only PGA Tour event in southeast Asia at 26-under par 262 for his fourth win on the PGA Tour.
His effort was five shots better than Argentina’s Emiliano Grillo (66), and the American duo of Chesson Hadley (66) and Bronson Burgoon (68) -- all of whom finished on 21-under par 267.
Two-time champion and former world number one Justin Thomas (64) closed with three birdies in his last three holes to surge up the leaderboard and finish in tied fifth place at 268, where he was joined by Mexican Abraham Ancer (65), South Africa’s Louis Oosthizen (69) and fellow Americans Charles Howell III (67) and Gary Woodland (71).
The world number 24 Leishman won the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the BMW Championship in 2017 and continued his winning streak in 2018 with the CIMB Classic win. It all would have looked a distant dream when the 34-year-old almost quit the game around the time of the 2015 Masters, when his wife Audrey was diagnosed with and nearly died from acute respiratory distress syndrome and toxic shock syndrome.
An emotional Leishman, who made eight birdies, including a putt from nearly 50 feet on the par-4 ninth, and a solitary bogey, said it felt “unbelievable” to win.
“It was a very tough time that we went through, but it certainly made us stronger as people, made us appreciate just the everyday things, appreciate our kids more, appreciate friends, family, everything,” he said of his wife’s illness.
“I won’t say it made golf less important, but it made me realize that golf’s not life or death... As long as I give it my best shot, that’s what it’s all about.”
Leishman opened with a par and then made four birdies in the next four holes to pull ahead. A brace of birdies on the ninth and 10th had taken him to 25-under par, with none of his closest pursuers putting any pressure on him.
Overnight joint leader Shubhankar Sharma of India started in a shaky manner before coming back strongly with four birdies in four holes from the eighth onwards, but he made three straight bogeys from the 11th to finish on even-par for the day.
Woodland also had an up and down round and never got going.
CHUN TRIUMPHS
Local favourite Chun In-gee shot a final-round 66 to win her first LPGA title in more than two years before a cheering home crowd on Sunday.
Chun, ranked 27th in the world, finished 16 under par 272 to claim the US$300,000 first prize at the LPGA KEB Hana Bank Championships.
The 24-year-old fired seven birdies and one bogey in the final round to finish three strokes ahead of Charley Hull (71) of England at the Sky 72 golf Club’s Ocean Course in Incheon.
An emotional Chun couldn’t hold back the tears after clinching her third career LPGA win and first non-major title.
“When I realized I won I just felt the hard times through the last few years just go away,” she said. “I’m so happy to get this win.”
The world’s top two players, Park Sung-hyun (69) of South Korea and Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn (71), were tied at third at 12 under.
“A lot of fans came out today so I was very grateful and in awe but I’m disappointed I couldn’t show them a better play,” Park said.
The 25-year-old, who will attend the Buick LPGA tournament in Shanghai next week, added: “I wasn’t satisfied with my shot all season but I’ve gained confidence in the past two weeks so I’m looking forward to the remaining tournaments.”