KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) -- Justin Thomas began his title defense with an 8-under 64 at the $7 million CIMB Classic on Thursday, making nine birdies and a bogey to move into a three-way tie with Keegan Bradley and Derek Fathauer for the first-round lead.
Thomas, who won his first PGA Tour title here last year in a tournament-record total 26-under-par 262, said he felt at ease in the opening round of the PGA Tour-sanctioned event.
''If there's such a thing as an easy 8-under, it was,'' Thomas said. ''I wedged it great.