Marc Leishman turned what was supposed to be a shootout in the final round of the CIMB Classic into a blowout.
The 34-year-old Aussie shot 7-under-par 65 to beat three players by five strokes on the West Course at TPC Kuala Lumpur http://tpckl.com in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in the second event of the new PGA Tour season.
“I feel unbelievable right now,” Leishman said after claiming his fourth victory on the circuit, including the Arnold Palmer Invitational and the BMW Championship last year. “I knew that even though I got off to a good start, I still needed to grind because there’s some tough holes out there. Managed to hit some good shots and this is the result. It’s great to get back in the winner’s circle, excited to be back in Malaysia and leaving with this (trophy).
“We’ll sit that (trophy) in the middle of the table tonight and have a few beers and just talk about it, and just have a good night with friends really. I’m looking forward to doing that tonight.”
Leishman took control early with four consecutive birdies through No. 5 and added four more on the last 10 holes to post a winning score of 26-under 262, tying the course record set by Justin Thomas in 2015.
Chesson Hadley birdied four holes on the back nine to close with a 66 and tied for second with Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, who also had a 66 with birdies on six of the first nine, and first-round leader Bronson Burgoon, who had two late birdies in a 68.
The fourth-ranked Thomas, who won the CIMB Classic in 2015 and 2016, eagled the fifth hole and birdied the last three to shoot 64 and finish six shots back in a tie for fifth with Abraham Ancer (65) of Mexico, Charles Howell III (67), Louis Oosthuizen (67) of South Africa, and Gary Woodland (71).
Kevin Chappell of Fresno and UCLA carded a 65 and was one more back in a tie for 10th with Siwoo Kim of South Korea, who also had a 65, and Shubhankar Sharma of India, who finished at 72.
Defending champion Pat Perez of San Diego struggled to a 74 and tied for 63rd.
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