This one was at least supposed to have a little drama over the final 18 holes.
After all, you had three tied for the 54-hole lead at the not-very-difficult TPC Kuala Lumpur over in Malaysia where the “feels like” temperature was somewhere around 100.
Marc Leishman, Gary Woodland and rising Indian star Shubhankar Sharma were tied for the overnight lead at the CIMB Classic. Shootout?
The only one of the three who decided to shoot was Leishman. The big Aussie birdied four holes in a row starting at the second, added another at the ninth to get to 24-under and promptly left Woodland and young Sharma in his jet-wash.
Leishman took his foot off the accelerator over the final nine, still finished with 65 and won by five shots. When you shoot 26-under your chances are really good and that falls right into the PGA Tour’s motto that “These guys are good, especially on easy golf courses.”
That 26-under tied Justin Thomas’ tournament record and speaking of J.T., after messing around the first three days, he got serious on Sunday, shot 64 and tied for fifth in the tournament he has dominated in recent years.
Leishman was sort of matter-of-fact about his fourth win on the PGA Tour. He felt out of sorts earlier in the weeks.
“On Tuesday I got here and I thought I was going to have to call Callaway and get them to leave some more golf balls in my locker, I was hitting my driver a bit sideways,” Leishman said afterward. “Sorted that out, and this is the result.”
Five shots back of him were Emiliano Grille, Chesson Hadley and first-round leader Bronson Burgoon.
As for Leishman, he went out to do what any of us would do after the big win.
“Going to have a few beers and celebrate,” he added.
Maybe he knew this was coming. He made flight reservations for Hawaii the week of the Tournament of Champions. Made those before the tournament.
The tour’s Asian vacation continues for the next two weeks. The C.J. Cup in South Korea is on tap next followed by a WGC event in Shanghai.
