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Tournaments

The 30-second guide to the CIMB Classic: Who won, by how much, and what does it mean

Sean ZakBy Sean Zak
October 14, 2018
Marc Leishman won for the first time in 2018.
Getty Images

There’s nothing better than a good, long read. Except maybe a good short read. With that, we give you our crib-note summary of today’s final round of the CIMB Classic.

Winner: Marc Leishman, by five (!) over Emiliano Grillo, Chesson Hadley and Bronson Burgoon.

Why it matters: Wins are wins. Leishman nabbed his first win of the 2018 calendar year. It will push him back into the top 20 of the world ranking.

How it played out: Leishman began the day in a three-way tie for first with Gary Woodland and Shubhankar Sharma….and he was the only one making birdies. Big Leish made birdie on four straight holes (nos. 2-5) to run out ahead of the others. Leish made just one bogey on the day (at 14), and cruised to a 5-shot victory. He added a birdie from 12 feet to cap it off on 18. Oh, and 26 under tied the tournament record.

Disappointment of the day: Gary Woodland was the field’s last chance. Through 10, Woodland trailed by three, and instead of hitting the gas, he backed up with bogeys on three of the next five holes. He’d play the final eight holes in two over.

Best rallying cry: Justin Thomas knows TPC Kuala Lumpur as well as anyone does, and he showed it again Sunday with a smooth 64. While it only brought him back to a T5 finish, those Fedex Cup points will wait for no one. You’ve gotta take them!

Best fan: Leishman’s family. The Leishman squad was awake here in the United States cheering on their dad from afar. It’s the weekend, so no bedtime necessary, right?

Up next Korea! The East Asia swing is just getting started. Next week is the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges, a big money, no cut event. Expect many of the players who competed in the CIMB to make the trek over to Korea for this one. Even PGA Tour player of the year Brooks Koepka is in the field.