Moore the merrier as he defends his Classic title in Malaysia
AMERICAN Ryan Moore successfully defended his CIMB Classic title in Malaysia yesterday, as compatriot Gary Woodland again had to settle for second place.
Moore, who beat Woodland in a play-off at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club 12 months ago, carded a closing 67 to finish 17 under par, three shots ahead of Woodland, Kevin Na and Spain’s Sergio Garcia.
“It’s been a great week,” said Moore, who recorded eight birdies and three bogeys after beginning the final round tied for the lead with Na. “I’m a little bit lost for words right now. To come back and defend like this, that’s something I have never done, so it makes it that much more special.
“To do it the way I did, hitting some great shots coming down the stretch and making some birdies when I needed to, is great.
“Last year was a lot more stressful. I had to get up and down from 65 yards just to get into a play-off. I got to enjoy this more, although I was still making it a little bit too interesting.”
Woodland also carded a closing 67 with six birdies and just one bogey on the par-five 18th, while Na birdied four of his first nine holes but then bogeyed the 13th and ran up a double-bogey six on the 17th to end his chances. Garcia was also left to rue a costly doublebogey, in his case on the par-five 10th after a front nine of 33, although he bounced back with birdies on the 11th and 14th to post a final round of 69.
“Congrats to R Moore, hit some great shots coming in!” the Spaniard tweeted. “I felt like I had a good chance but the lost ball on 10 didn’t help. We’ll keep at it!”
Ryder Cup team-mate Lee Westwood, who won the Malaysian Open on the same course in April, finished in a tie for 13th after a final-round 68.