Moore

October 29, 2013. American, Ryan Moore could not have risked handing over the victory of CIMB Classic to any one after having made concerted effort towards it from the day one. Moore finally defeated compatriot Gary Woodland with a magical birdie on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to gather trophy for himself.

Moore hit an exquisite eight iron approach shot to within three feet of the par five 18th hole at the Kuala Lumpur Golf and Country Club’s West course to claim his third PGA TOUR title in the US$7 million event jointly sanctioned by the Asian Tour.

Woodland, who had missed a birdie putt on the 72nd hole on Sunday evening for the victory, missed the green in regulation and then left his fourth shot short of the hole to settle for the runner-up place.

[highlight] Playing a play-off with someone like Gary, I know I don’t want it to last very long [/highlight]

“Playing a play-off with someone like Gary, I know I don’t want it to last very long,” said a delighted Moore, who won the top cheque of US$1.26 million in what is Asia’s first official FedExCup event.

“I had a great opportunity there on 18 with my third shot, and it was just an absolute perfect number. It was 158 yards, a little bit back up the hill, so for me that was just a perfect slightly choked down full eight iron.

“Fortunately it was a back right pin, too, and I like to hit a little cut. It was coincidentally the exact shot I was working on the range…and fortunately I hit it right next to the hole.”

The 30-year-old,  Las Vegas golfer said he was pumped up for the play-off after making a crucial par save on the 72nd hole in near-darkness on Sunday after a wonderful approach shot as well.

Woodland, chasing his third PGA TOUR title, was disappointed he came up short against Moore after both players ended regulation play on 14-under-par 278. “It was tough. It was a long hole, and Ryan hit a great shot in there and obviously made a good birdie. But I thought I hit a pretty good shot on the third, just obviously coming out of the rough, I would have like to have been in the fairway, came out of the rough and came up a little short,” said Woodland.

He regretted having hit his birdie putt any differently on the 72nd hole during the final round which would have sealed victory for him.