Woodland tears the course apart
SUBLIME: WORLD NO 38 COMPILES A MAGNIFICENT 61
Kuala Lumpur
Two-time runner-up Gary Woodland equalled the course record with a sensational 11-under par 61 to grab a share of the lead at the $7 million CIMB Classic yesterday.
At the halfway stage at par-72 TPC Kuala Lumpur, the 34-yearold American was on 14-underpar 130, later matched by Australia’s Marc Leishman who came in with a 10-under-par 62.
Ryder Cup star Paul Casey and 22-year-old Indian Shubhankar Sharma were one shot back in a tie for third after rounds of 65 and 64 respectively on another low-scoring day.
Woodland’s blistering 61 matched Justin Thomas’s course record from the second round in 2015. Thomas, the 2015 and 2016 champion, slipped down the leaderboard to tied 15th, despite his 65.
World No 38 Woodland, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour, finished second in 2013 and 2014, and he showed his love for the course once again by carding the lowest round of his career.
The ever-consistent Leishman, winner of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and BMW Championship on the PGA Tour last year, had an even better finish than Woodland, draining six birdies in his last eight holes.
Sharma, who won the Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur earlier this year, has been struggling and he said his 64 was a good reward for some hard work.
“I have made a few changes in the body and the swing. I’ve been playing a lot this year and that’s taken a toll on the body,” said Sharma.
“There haven’t been any injuries, it’s just tightness in a few areas and just not getting the club in the right positions.”
Casey went off on a tear midway through the round when he had a birdie, birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie sequence from hole 18 onwards. But he only found five pars in his last five holes for a 65.
Overnight leader Branson Burgoon shot 69 to drop to tied fifth, while defending champion Pat Perez was tied 36th at five under par. –