Golf

Justin Thomas continues fine form to lead by three shots in Korea

Ireland’s Graeme McDowell shot first round 73 in inaugural CJ Cup Nine Bridges

Justin Thomas talks with Pat Perez on the 11th hole during the first round of the CJ Cup golf tournament, the US PGA Tour’s first foray into South Korea. Photograph: Getty Images
Justin Thomas talks with Pat Perez on the 11th hole during the first round of the CJ Cup golf tournament, the US PGA Tour’s first foray into South Korea. Photograph: Getty Images
Thu Oct 19 2017 - 11:55

Justin Thomas lived up to his billing as pre-tournament favourite with a superb first round of 63 in the inaugural CJ Cup Nine Bridges.

The 78-man event features a prize purse of €7.8million ($9.25m) and a first prize of €1.3m ($1.6m), with US PGA champion and world number four Thomas the highest ranked player in the field on Jeju Island.

And despite starting with a bogey on the 10th — his opening hole — Thomas recovered to finish nine under par and hold a three-shot lead over Ryder Cup team-mate Patrick Reed, Marc Leishman, Chez Reavie, Scott Brown and Malaysia's Gavin Green.

“It was kind of a weird day,” Thomas told the Golf Channel. “It started off with a really, really bad bogey and I had a seven-hole stretch there where I basically kind of went unconscious.”

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That stretch featured an eagle from 12 feet on the 12th, four straight birdies from the 14th and another eagle from close range on the 18th, taking the 24-year-old to the turn in just 29 shots.

Thomas, who had chipped in on both the 15th and 16th, then carded three birdies and a bogey on the front nine to complete an ideal start to the PGA Tour’s first tournament in Korea.

Former world number one Jason Day is five shots off the lead after an opening 68 which included eight birdies and a double-bogey seven on the 18th, with Tour Championship winner Xander Schauffele a shot further back.

Ian Poulter birdied the last two holes to finish one under par, with compatriot Paul Casey carding a 72 and Ireland's Graeme McDowell - despite an eagle on the fourth hole - shooting 73.