CIMB Classic Recap: Thomas Grabs the Victory in Malaysia

The curious case of the PGA Tour youth movement that would impress even Benjamin Button showed no signs of abating last week, this time halfway around the world. In true Button fashion, 22-year-old Justin Thomas captured the CIMB Classic in Malaysia on Sunday, taking things down a notch after a pair of 23-year-olds won the first two tournaments of the season.

Thomas emerged from a six-way tie atop the leaderboard to edge Adam Scott by one stroke with a tournament-record 26-under 262 at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club in an event jointly sponsored by the PGA and Asian tours.

The Alabama native made it a third straight week for a first-time winner on tour and became the latest member of the so-called Class of '11 to capture a title. The group is headlined by Jordan Spieth, a close friend of Thomas, and also includes Emiliano Grillo, Daniel Berger, Patrick Rodgers and Ollie Schniederjans – all of whom either graduated or were on target to graduate high school in 2011.

Even though Thomas had seven top 10s last season, he saw Berger come away with the Rookie of the Year award. And two weeks ago, he tied for third as Grillo beat him to a first career title. Likewise for Smylie Kaufman, who won last week's tour stop. But now they've got nothing on Thomas, and his victory vaulted him to No. 30 in the world rankings heading into the season's first big tournament, the WGC-HSBC Champions beginning on Thursday in Shanghai.

Thomas was tied with Scott, Kevin Na, Hideki Matsuyama, Brendan Steele and James Hahn at 20-under early in the final round. He forged ahead until No. 14, where he rinsed his approach en route to a double bogey that cost him the lead to Na. But Thomas steadied, birdieing the next three holes to move ahead.

All Thomas needed to win was a par on the 580-yard 18th. And after he nestled his third shot onto the green about 20 feet from the cup, victory seemed a mere formality. But he blasted his first putt well past, leaving a knee-knocking five-footer.

After it went in, Thomas was asked about the pressure of winning for the first time.

"It's a lot harder when you run 20-footers about five feet past the hole," he said, smiling.

Yes, it's enough to age you five years. Which, for a 22-year-old, is a lot.

MONDAY TAKEAWAY

Adam Scott
With the ban on anchored putting looming on Jan. 1, Scott made great strides with a conventional putter at the CIMB. After putting cross-handed at the President's Cup, Scott switched to the claw grip last week and nearly won the tournament, closing with the round of the day, a 9-under 63. Of course, if Scott can putt even decently, he becomes a very valuable fantasy option, one who could contend in any major. Sunday's runner-up showing moved him to No. 12 in the world.

Kevin Na
Na was second to both Grillo and Kaufman the first two weeks, giving him eight runner-ups in his career (vs. one win) and leading some to associate that with bad luck. But likely needing an eagle on the par-5 18th to even have a chance to tie Thomas, Na hit 3-wood off the tee, eliminating any shot at eagle (other than one from the fairway). He ended up parring the hole. So Na tied for third, two strokes back, and you have to wonder whether he's content racking up high finishes (and pretty large checks) at the expense of going for wins (and even larger checks). Na's owners couldn't have been pleased with his strategy on 18.

Brendan Steele
Steele now has contended in two of the three events so far this season. He didn't have a bogey on Sunday but he also had only four birdies, while much of the field was throwing darts. It's so hard to gauge Steele; he was 50th in the point standings last season, his best showing on tour, yet seems capable of much more. Until he takes that next step into top-30 range, his biggest claim to fame may remain being the nephew of Anthony Geary, the former Luke of "Luke and Laura" fame on General Hospital. And no golfer wants that.

Hideki Matsuyama
Matsuyama is only 23, but he's an "older" 23 than some of the other youngsters, having played more than 60 events and ranking in the top 20 in the world virtually since his breakthrough win at the 2014 Memorial. But that remains his lone victory, and it's not unfair to wonder when he might win again. He certainly had his chance on Sunday. Like Steele, he played bogey-free golf; he just didn't get enough birdies. He's played the WGC-HSBC Champions twice before and wasn't a factor.

Scott Piercy
Piercy is a fun guy to watch, as he wears his emotions on his face. On Sunday, we got the full range in the span of 15 minutes. For the second straight day, Piercy holed out for an eagle, this time on the par-4 13th,, one of the toughest holes on the course. He was all smiles, as he moved to 19-under. Moments later, he found the water on 14 and double-bogeyed. He all of a sudden was, how can we say this, not all smiles. Still, it was an excellent week for Piercy, who tied for seventh. He's No. 43 in the world and, thus, in the WGC field this week.

Spencer Levin
Another tournament, another week that looked as if Levin could've really taken a step forward. But while he was on the first page of the leaderboard on Saturday, he fumbled to a 2-over 74 on Sunday to tie for 17th. It was his second straight top 25, but one we're sure he felt dissatisfied with. You could do worse than to have Levin on your team. He plays a lot and now is adding decent results to his stellar attendance mark.

Paul Peterson
Peterson is an Oregonian playing on the Asian Tour and he tied for 29th at the CIMB. He was a rookie last year in Asia and finished 22nd in the Order of Merit. This year, he's 11th. He's only 275th in the world so he's not a fantasy option, but he's making his way higher and might be a good name to keep tucked away in your back pocket. He's even the highest-ranked Peterson.

John Peterson
No relation to Paul Peterson and he's also ranked lower. But he's probably a lot more fun to golf with. Beginning Sunday in 77th (and last) place, Peterson went all Happy Gilmore off the tee.

Let it be known if you Gilmore it off the first on Sunday you shoot 6 under. @drewsteckelpic.twitter.com/eFjaVxWdVe

— John Peterson (@JohnPetersonLSU) November 1, 2015

Peterson later tweeted that the ball went into a pond but that he still parred the hole. And he shot 6-under 66, so he who can argue? If he's on your team, he also tweeted that he's done playing for the year, to return again in Hawaii in January. Something about hunting season.

Victor Dubuisson
Less than a year ago, the 25-year-old Frenchman was in the top 20 in the world. But he had plummeted to No. 69 entering the Turkish Airlines Open, the first event in the European Tour's four-tournament Final Series. Dubuisson won it, his second Euro victory, both at this event, by a shot over South Africa's Jaco Van Zyl with a closing 6-under 66. It was too late to get him into this week's WGC event, but it may signal that whatever funk Dubuisson was in is now over. He zoomed to No. 35 in the world rankings.

Rory McIlroy
McIlroy entered the final round tied with Dubuisson but finished five shots back, tying for sixth. The world's No. 3 will be in China this week for the WGC, and it could go a long way in telling us where his game stands. On Sunday, at least, it wasn't that good.