Thomas wins CIMB Classic for first PGA Tour title

American Justin Thomas holed a 6-foot par putt on the 72nd hole Sunday for a one-stroke victory over Australian Adam Scott and his first PGA Tour title at the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The 22-year-old Thomas overcame a double bogey on the 14th with birdies on Nos. 15, 16 and 17.

Thomas shot a 6-under 66 for a tournament-record 26-under 262 total at Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club. Scott, playing two groups ahead, had an eagle and seven birdies in his final-round 63.

Thomas, who had a course-record 61 in the second round, entered the final round tied with Brendan Steele at the top of the leaderboard.

Kevin Na (67) and Steele (68), who were in the final group with Thomas, tied for third at 24-under.

Thomas came to the par-5 final hole with a one-shot lead. He drove right of the fairway and his approach found the bunker short of the green. After blasting out to 20 feet and racing his first putt past the hole, Thomas holed the comebacker for the first victory.

“I still can’t believe what happened,” Thomas said. “I made that par to clinch the title. I don’t care how I got it done, it just feels awesome.”

Thomas, from Louisville, Ky., said he had been struggling with downhill lies and that contributed to his double bogey at the par-4 14th. He then knocked his approach stiff at the par-3 15th.

“The thing I told myself is (that) I really didn’t do it because I was nervous,” Thomas said. “I felt like I’ve been struggling off those downhill lies and that’s what I’ve been doing, I have been chunking. Unfortunately, I had a big body of water in front of the green.

“But I just kept telling myself I controlled the tournament before that shot, so I just need to get back in it. I had four more holes to try to make some more birdies and was fortunate enough to do it.”