Justin Thomas feels right at home at TPC Kuala Lumpur.
Thomas, the defending champion, recorded a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 to take a two-stroke lead over Anirban Lahiri of India after two rounds of the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
“I drove the ball well and had it in the fairways a lot and had a lot of birdie opportunities,” said the 23-year-old Thomas, who claimed his first and only PGA Tour victory in this tournament last year.
“There’s definitely a couple shots I’d like to have back, but I mean, going bogey-free and 6-under is always good. I really try not to think a lot about the fact that I won last year. I’m really just trying to focus on each and every shot that I’m hitting.”
Thomas’ 36-hole total of 14-under 130 was one stroke off the tournament record he set in his first CIMB appearance last year.
Lahiri, who lost in a playoff at the Venetian Macao Open last week, was tied for the lead with Thomas before driving into trouble on the par-5 18th hole and taking a double bogey-7 to complete his own 66.
James Hahn of Alameda and Cal posted a 64 that included nine birdies and was three shots back in a tie for third with Russell Knox of Scotland, who had a bogey-free 63, and Hideki Matsuyama of Japan, who eagled the fifth hole in a 64.
Marc Leishman of Australia carded a 65 and was four behind in a tie for sixth with Derek Fathauer, who was tied for the first-round lead with Thomas at 64, but managed only a 70 in round two.
Ryan Moore, who won the tournament in 2013 and 2014, shot 65 and was six strokes down in a tie for eighth with Brendan Steele (69), Keegan Bradley (72), Zac Blair (66), Siwoo Kim (66) of South Korea, Rafa Cabrera Bello (67) of Spain and Scott Piercy (68).
