Moore defends CIMB Classic title, wins by 3 shots
KUALA LUMPUR: Ryan Moore successfully defended his CIMB Classic title, shooting a 5-under 67 on Sunday for a three-stroke win, beating fellow American Gary Woodland for the second straight year.
Moore finished on 17-under 271 at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club to become the first player to defend a title on the PGA Tour since Tiger Woods at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2012 and 2013.
Sergio Garcia (69) and Kevin Na (70) shared a three-way tie for second with Woodland (67).
Moore had eight birdies against three bogeys in the final round, and earned his fourth PGA Tour title with superb approach shots at the 14th and 17th holes for birdies, and some nerveless putting on the back nine.
“It was incredible to finish the way I did coming down those last few holes,” Moore said. “I like to tell myself all the time that ‘I am a closer. Let’s just do what we can, hit good shots and let’s close this thing’ and I was able to do that.”
Woodland, who lost to Moore in a playoff at this tournament 12 months earlier, threatened to reverse that result by firing six birdies without a bogey over the first 15 holes to move within a shot of Moore.
He had a birdie putt at 16 for a share of the lead which lipped out, and at 18 he had the chance for another birdie which would have upped the pressure on Moore, but missed it, and the close-range par putt.
“The par fives cost me all week,” Woodland said. “I played beautifully outside the par fives.
“Hopefully I can ride this momentum and play well next week.”
Na birdied three of the first four holes to take a two-stroke lead and still led by a stroke after 12 before things began to unravel.
A bogey on the 13th dropped him back into a share of the lead; at 14, a downhill eagle opportunity slid past the hole at pace and turned into a three-putt for par; and at 15 he missed a birdie putt, leaving him two shots behind.
With Moore taking a bogey at 16, Na looked like getting back a share of the lead with a birdie putt from two feet. Distracted by some cameras, he had to back off the putt, and missed it. After tapping in for par he waved his finger to the gallery in frustration.
Things went from bad to worse at 17 when he put his tee shot into the top of a palm tree. With the ball irretrievable, he took a penalty and returned to the tee, finishing with a double-bogey six that ended his challenge.