Americans Ryan Moore and Gary Woodland set up a playoff today after finishing tied on 14-under at the weather-hit CIMB Classic in Malaysia yesterday.
Play was halted for 3 hours and then again for 30 minutes due to lightning and a thunderstorm. By the time the leading group had finished their regulation round, darkness had engulfed the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
Woodland, who started a shot behind Moore in the last round, narrowly missed a 10-foot putt for a birdie on the par-five 18th hole, which could have earned him his third PGA Tour title.
“I made it when I looked up, and it just broke too much at the end there,” the 29-year-old told reporters after his round of three-under 69, which contained five birdies and two bogeys.
The 31-year-old Moore, who had the lead after the first round and a share of the top spot after the third in the US$7 million event, gained a shot on the par-four 16th to pull alongside Woodland.
“To have to come back tomorrow for a playoff is not the worst thing ever,” Moore said. “I’m just happy to be in it.”
Big-hitting Thai Kiradech Aphibarnrat, who is leading the Asian Tour’s money list, finished one shot behind the leaders alongside the US’ Chris Stroud, who had a share of the lead going into yesterday’s round.
Left-hander Phil Mickelson finally seemed to have solved his swing problems, but met a foe in his putter.
He managed just a single birdie during a two-over 74 and finished tied for the 19th spot with a host of players, including the US’ Bo van Pelt, who scorched the course with nine birdies and a double-bogey for a 65.
“Despite the score, [this] was the best I hit it and the best the swing felt,” Mickelson said. “I actually feel like I have some direction heading into next week’s HSBC Champions in Shanghai and I’m looking forward to playing it.”
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