Thomas cards ‘easy’ 63 to take lead as Koepka falters at CJ Cup

Justin Thomas shot a stunning nine-under 63 Friday on Jeju Island to take control of the CJ Cup from home favourite An Byeong-hun as world number one Brooks Koepka’s title defence evaporated with a 75.

Overnight leader An was reeled in by the relentless Thomas who started four shots behind but finished two in front after setting the South Korea event’s 36-hole tournament record on 13-under 131.

“That was, I would say, overall one of the better rounds I’ve played in a while,” Thomas declared after equalling his own best round at the $9.75 million US PGA Tour event.

“I just kind of kept the ball in play off the tee, hit some good irons. I think I hit every green and made a couple putts early,” said Thomas, who also shot 63 in the opening round two years ago on the way to victory.

“And then the back nine, I got a few close to the holes where those birdies came easier. So it just was a very easy 63, if you can somehow say that.”

South Korea’s An, who shot 69, shares second on 11-under going into the weekend with Seoul-born New Zealander Danny Lee, whose 66 could have been better but for a bogey at 18.

Koepka, the winner at the Nine Bridges course a year ago, had a day to forget with five bogeys in his three-over par round and ended the day 13 shots off the lead.

The best player in the world wasn’t even the best player in his family -- little brother Chase Koepka shot a level-par 72 to go into the weekend at two-under par, two shots better than his famous sibling.

A rejuvenated Jordan Spieth rolled home five birdies in his last seven holes in a putting masterclass to card a 65 and move into contention.

The three-time major winner and former world number one shares fourth place on nine-under par with Emiliano Grillo of Argentina, who carded a 66.

The 26-year-old Texan has not won a tournament for two years but felt he was close to his majestic best Friday.

Thomas, the inaugural CJ Cup winner in 2017, blasted out of the blocks on a blustery morning on the side of Mount Halla, Korea’s highest mountain that dominates Jeju Island.

He birdied each of the first four holes to get to eight-under par and another on the eighth put him within striking distance of the Korean.

An’s round got going around the turn with four birdies from his eighth to 11th holes.

“I guess my putting was pretty good. I didn’t miss any short putts and a couple of long ones dropped, that definitely helped,” said An.

Thomas started the back nine with his sixth birdie and another on the par-five 12th drew him level.

A three at the par-four 14th gave him the outright lead and a two-putt birdie at the par-five 18th provided a two-shot cushion going into the weekend.  

Meanwhile, Brooke Henderson aced the par-three second hole on Friday to ignite an eight-under round of 64 and take a two-stroke lead into the weekend at the Buick LPGA Shanghai.

The Canadian world number six shot the lowest round in the field so far to reach the halfway mark at 11 strokes under par, with American Jessica Korda two back at nine-under.

But last year’s champion Danielle Kang of the USA was in the mix at eight-under for the tournament as she tries to go 2-for-2 in the $2.1 million tournament, now in its second year.

Kang eagled the par-5 ninth and added four birdies for a 69 on the day. Marina Alex of the USA and Amy Yang of South Korea were next on six-under at the par-72 Qizhong Garden Golf Club. The world’s top-ranked woman Golfer, Ko Jin-young of South Korea, will need some help in the final 36 holes if she wants to take the title.

Ko has won two of the last four tournaments she has played and has won two Majors this year.

But she was left nine shots behind Henderson after managing only a 70 in the second round following an even-par 72 on the opening day.

Agencies