Justin Thomas admitted he wasn’t quite ready to start the new season last week in his double title defense at the CIMB Classic in Malaysia, but he is back on track.
Thomas, who rallied on the weekend to salvage a tie for 17th, shot 9-under-par 63 on Thursday to take a three-stroke lead over five players after one round of the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges on the Nine Bridges course in Jeju Island, South Korea.
“It was kind of a weird day,” said Thomas, who had birdies on the 12th and 18th holes after starting at No. 10, and added seven birdies. “It started off with a really, really bad bogey. And then I had a seven-hole stretch there where I basically kind of went unconscious. That was pretty much most of my round.
” … It’s still golf (playing overseas). It doesn’t matter where you are and I know that it is very cliche and easier said than done but you just have to take advantage of the rest and time you have off the course.”
Chasing the reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year and FedExCup champion are Patrick Reed, Marc Leishman of Australia, Chez Reavie, Scott Brown and Gavin Kyle Green, who all finished at 66 in the first PGA Tour regular-season event in South Korea.
Tony Finau eagled the third hole en route to a 67 and is tied for seventh with Charles Howell III, Russell Henley, Charles Howell III, Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela and Ollie Schneiderjans.
For complete results, visit https://www.pgatour.com/competition/2018/the-cj-cup-at-nine-bridges/leaderboard.html.
