Justin Thomas, the defending champion at the CIMB Classic, holds a two-stroke lead over India’s Anirban Lahiri after two rounds. The 23 year-old Thomas (-14) heads into the weekend in a prime position to successfully defend his title.
After another solid 18 holes at TPC Kuala Lumpur’s West Course, Thomas stopped by the press area and commented on his success at TPC Kuala Lumpur, his round three playing partner, Lahiri, and if he is “rethinking” making a $250 pledge per birdie to help Hurricane Matthew victims.
Playing at TPC Kuala Lumpur
PRESS: What is it about this golf course that suits your game so well?
THOMAS: I think a lot of wedges. I feel like I’m a pretty good wedge player, and you just kind of have to know how far your ball is going. There’s not a lot of wind out here, so if you know how far it’s going, you’re going to be around pin-high all the time.
I feel like I’ve been hitting it solid enough or hitting it well enough to where I know my distances and I’ve definitely hit some good iron shots the last couple days and especially last year. But it’s just, I don’t know, I guess there’s something about it that I like.
Playing With Anirban Lahiri
PRESS: Looks like you’ll be probably paired with Anirban going into the weekend. Obviously he’s going to have a lot of popularity here. Have you played with him before?
THOMAS: We’ve played a couple times. He’s a great dude. We’ve had a lot of fun together. He’s fun to be around, fun to play with. It should be a pretty good crowd for us out there.
$250 Birdie Pledge
PRESS: You made the pledge for $250 per birdie. Did you know you would make this many birdies when you made that pledge? Starting to rethink that number at all?
THOMAS: Not at all, I planned on making a lot of birdies. I knew I made 30 and two eagles here last year, and I knew Safeway was a birdie-fest and I know it’s kind of the same in China.
I intended to make a lot of birdies. It wasn’t something like I was doing during the — wasn’t doing it during Augusta or the U.S. Open. I want to help out any way I can, and more birdies wins for everybody.
