Thomas falters in CIMB Classic title defense
Cameron Smith of Australia reacts after missing a putt on the 18th green during the first round of the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on October 12, 2017.
Two-time defending champion Justin Thomas got off to a shaky start at the CIMB Classic on Thursday with a 2-under-par 70, which left him languishing at the back of the pack.
Australian Cameron Smith, ranked No. 151 in the world, took the lead with a sparkling 8-under 64.
Thomas was in tied 23rd place and other favorites also fared badly at the PGA Tour event in Malaysia, with both Japan's Hideki Matsuyama and India's Anirban Lahiri trailing the leaders.
Thomas is coming off the back of a breakthrough season during which he racked up five wins, including a maiden major victory, and was named the 2017 PGA Tour Player of the Year.
The world No. 4 is hoping for a third consecutive win at the CIMB Classic, and opened his campaign with three birdies on the first nine holes at TPC Kuala Lumpur.
But the American, who started on the 10th, faltered after his promising start and hit three bogeys, leaving him to play catch-up against Smith.
It was his second-worst round in his CIMB Classic career.
Smith scored eight birdies to become the solo overnight leader.
"It was pretty simple really, hit a lot of good shots today and made a lot of good putts," he said.
"Same plan tomorrow. Really smart off the tee and just try and get in the fairway and then really aggressive into the greens and obviously hole some putts."
One shot behind Smith are Thailand's Poom Saksansin, American Keegan Bradley and freshly crowned Tour Championship winner Xander Schauffele, also from the United States.
Schauffele, who hit a course-low of 65, said he had "hit a lot of fairways and kind of made an easy day out of it".
India's Lahiri, in tied eighth place with a 5-under 67, said he was "a little disappointed".
"Obviously got off to a red hot start and then couldn't capitalize on the (higher) scoring part of the golf course," he said.
The golfers could be in for a tough day on Friday, with thunderstorms set to descend on Kuala Lumpur.
The US$7-million CIMB Classic is jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour and PGA Tour.
