Three Americans Share Opening Round Lead At CIMB Classic

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Three American golfers shot identical eight-under-par 64 scores to share the opening round lead in the 2016 CIMB Classic held at the TPC Kuala Lumpur in Bukit Kiara, here Thursday. They are Derek Fathauer, Keegan Bradley and defending champion Justin Thomas. Among the three players, Fathauer, making his debut in the competition, had a blemish free round by shooting eight birdies. "I played really solid. Hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens and no bogey...it was a great day. I tried to keep doing the same thing...Just keep playing the way I've been playing. "I think I'm playing a little more conservative than most guys. I'm not hitting driver that much. I'll kind of stick to my game and see what happens (Friday)," said the 30-year-old from Florida, who turned pro in 2008. Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Thomas started his title defence by overcoming the searing heat and humidity conditions by shooting nine birdies against a lone bogey. "It was solid. If there's such a thing as an easy eight-under, it was. I wedged it great. I took advantage of the first three par fives. I just hit a terrible three-putt on the first par five, number three but I just kind of went along my business. "I was just very comfortable and I hit it in there close a couple times and made a couple of putts. It was a pretty low-stress day," said Thomas. His biggest challenge came from the harsh playing conditions, with temperature rising to as high as 33 degrees Celsius. "I felt really weird to start the day. I told Jimmy (his caddie) I felt kind of like 'Jello' and I just felt weak, but I just tried to drink as much water as possible," said Thomas, who won last year with a tournament record of 26-under-par 262. While Major winner Bradley, who is seeking his fourth PGA Tour win, had a blemish free score in his first nine with six birdies and later soared with an eagle on par-five 10th. However, he dropped two bogeys at the 11th and 13th before recovering with two consecutive birdies at 16th and 17th. England's Paul Casey shot a 65 to trail the leader by one shot while reigning Asian Tour number one Anirban Lahiri of India, shot a 66 to settle in fifth place. The CIMB Classic, with a purse of US$7 million (about RM29.33 million), is part of the PGA Tour's season-long FedExCup competition and is co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Professional Golf Association of Malaysia. Into its seventh year, the 2016 CIMB Classic will feature a 78-player elite field, comprising 60 from the PGA TOUR, 10 from the Asian Tour and eight sponsors exemptions. -- BERNAMA