The Associated Press
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia–Justin Thomas collected the Jack Nicklaus Award as the U.S. PGA Tour player of the year a couple of days before heading to Malaysia in a bid to win his third-successive CIMB Classic.
Little wonder then the two-time defending champ was off his game slightly in the first round today, managing only a two-under-par 70 to sit six strokes behind leader Cameron Smith of Australia.
Smith opened with an eight-under 64 and leads a U.S. PGA Tour event after the first round for the first time in 64 starts.
Keegan Bradley, Xander Schauffele, and Poom Saksansin of Thailand were tied for second at seven-under.
Brendan Steele, coming off a victory last week at the Safeway Open, had an opening 67.
Thomas barely has had time to catch his breath after winning the FedEx Cup and playing in the Presidents Cup.
He won his first tour title here two years ago.
He’s aiming to be the first player to win the same tournament three years in a row since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic from 2009-11.
