Justin Thomas Gets Into Winning Form Ahead of CIMB Classic

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 (Bernama) -- Defending champion, Justin Thomas will arrive for his title defence at next month’s CIMB Classic with another grand accolade, the 2017 FedExCup Champion tag, next to his name. The event title sponsor, CIMB in a statement Monday, said the 24-year-old American golf star had put the icing on the cake to his 2016-17 PGA Tour campaign by winning the season-long FedExCup race after finishing second at the TOUR Championship on Sunday. Thomas bagged a cool US$10 million bonus following a spectacular season which included five victories plus a maiden major title. He finished one stroke behind the winner, Xander Schauffele, who became the first PGA Tour rookie to triumph at the final FedExCup Playoffs event. Reflecting on his successful season which started with his CIMB Classic defence nearly 12 months ago, Thomas is delighted to join an esteemed group of FedExCup champions who include Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and close friend Jordan Spieth. "It has been an unbelievable season. It's awesome just because I feel like I played so well this year, I was consistent. I mean, a lot of great weeks and great memories even. "Life-changing events that just kind of ended with another kind of life-changing thing for me. To just have my name on the trophy with the rest of those guys is pretty awesome," said Thomas. Thomas recalled how he started the 2016-17 season on a strong note with his second win at the CIMB Classic, which is the only PGA Tour event staged in Southeast Asia. "I mean Malaysia was great and to win, that was a new and different win for me coming from four back like that. It was awesome, it was a great week...huge achievement," he said. Meanwhile, the 23-year-old Schauffele has also committed to the US$7 million CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur from Oct 12-15 and will undoubtedly arrive as one of the top contenders. The CIMB Classic is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and Professional Golf Association of Malaysia (PGAM). The premier Malaysian tournament is also the first of three PGA Tour events in Asia during the month of October. -- BERNAMA