Justin Thomas was as hot as the weather in Malaysia last year when he went 15-under par for his first 36 holes.
He wasn’t far off that number on Friday in Kuala Lumpur as he turned in a second round 66 that got him to 14-under par at the halfway mark of the CIMB Classic.
The defending champion was bogey-free around the TPC Kuala Lumpur and will take a two-shot lead over Anirban Lahiri into the weekend.
Thomas started his day on the back nine and got his first birdie with a chip-in at the 13th. He was only two-under at the turn but four front nine birdies got him in with 66 to follow up on his opening 64.
“I drove the ball well, had it in the fairways, a lot of birdie opportunities. There’s definitely a couple of shots I’d like to have back but I mean going bogey free is always good,” Thomas said after his round.
Lahiri added a second straight 66 to get to 12-under.
Round of the week was the 63 turned in by Russell Knox. Knox had nine birdies including four straight starting at the 14th hole on his way in. He got to 11-under par and was tied for third with James Hahn and Hideki Matsuyama.
