2014 CIMB Classic: Ryan Moore Defends 2013 Title In Malaysia

Aug 31, 2014; Norton, MA, USA; Ryan Moore hits his tee shot on the 8th hole during the third round of the Deutsche Bank Championship golf tournament at TPC of Boston. Mandatory Credit: Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Ryan Moore becomes the first PGA Tour player to successfully defend a title on the tour since Tiger Woods defended the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2013, when he won The CIMB Classic on Sunday afternoon in Kuala Lumpur. Moore matched his Saturday round by carding a second, seven under par 67 on the Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club for a three-shot victory. 

Last year, Ryan Moore beat fellow American, Gary Woodland in a playoff, but this year, he had to hold off Woodland, Kevin Na, and the tournament favorite, Sergio Garcia. All three ended the tournament three shots back at 14 under par.

The CIMB Classic became part of the PGA wrap around schedule last year, is sanctioned by both the PGA and Asia Tours and thus awards the winner 500 Fed Ex Cup points. Moore is projected to end the week in fourth place after the update.

It wasn’t pretty on Sunday afternoon, Moore survived three bogeys on his card for his fourth PGA Tour win, and watched as his nearest competitors struggled as well down the stretch.

"“It was incredible to finish the way I did coming down those last few holes,” Moore said. “I like to tell myself all the time that `I am a closer. Let’s just do what we can, hit good shots and let’s close this thing’ and I was able to do that.”"

Of the closest competitors on Sunday, it was Woodland who put up the biggest fight. Woodland only made one bogey on Sunday, but couldn’t overcome the 70-71 he carded in the early rounds. He beat Moore by a stroke on Saturday, but was wasn’t able to make up enough ground to get the win.

"“The par fives cost me all week,” Woodland said. “I played beautifully outside the par fives.“Hopefully I can ride this momentum and play well next week.”"

Kevin Na got hot on the front nine with birdies on three of the first four holes and after making birdie at nine, made the turn at 34, and a two-shot lead. He started to unravel with a bogey at 13, and a double at 17.

Na had a chance for an eagle at the driveable par four 14th, but ran the downhill putt past the hole and missed the birdie coming back to settle for par. He was distracted by a camera at 16 when he missed another three-foot putt for birdie, and had a disaster at 17.

He put his tee-shot in the top of a palm tree, and had to go back to the tee when he couldn’t identify his ball. He made double bogey and was virtually out of contention. The birdie at 18 got him into a tie for second place.

"“It’s my fault hitting a bad putt and it’s hard to recover from that late in the day,” Na said. “I never got it together before I hit the next shot and you saw what happened.“It’s disappointing when you know you had the lead and it’s yours, but Ryan did step it up in the end.”"

Sergio Garcia struggled with his putter all week in Kuala Lumpur, playing the first two rounds with a conventional grip on his flat stick, and using the scissor on the weekend.

The top ranked player in the field made a valiant run at this tournament with three birdies on the front nine, but like Na, had problems with a palm tree at the tenth hole.

After needing to return to the tee for a second shot, Garcia made double bogey as well and had to settle for a second-place tie.

"“After nine, I thought I had a chance because I finally got some things going after two or three lip-outs early in the round for birdie,” Garcia said. “But unfortunately that double bogey kind of stopped me.”"

Source: PGATour.com