KUALA LUMPUR — American Justin Thomas came close to joining golf's exclusive 59 club after a spectacular birdie blitz in Malaysia on Friday but instead had to make do with the halfway lead at the PGA Tour's CIMB Classic.
The 22-year-old from Kentucky, in his second year on Tour after a solid rookie season, looked set to achieve golf's magical mark when he reached 11-under after 15 holes of his second round at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club.
But he could only par his way in over the closing three holes, including the generous par-five last, to miss out on becoming the seventh player to shoot a 59 on the PGA Tour and first since American Jim Furyk two years ago at the BMW Championship.