PGA TOUR

Thomas birdies 2nd hole of playoff to win CJ Cup

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Justin Thomas (Matt Roberts/ Getty Images)

JEJU, Korea, Republic Of – Justin Thomas beat Australia’s Marc Leishman on the second playoff hole Sunday to win the inaugural CJ Cup in South Korea and cap his amazing breakout season on the PGA Tour.

Thomas sealed his fifth PGA Title of 2017 when he birdied the second extra hole and Leishman made bogey after finding the water.

The pair went to a sudden-death playoff after completing the first U.S. PGA Tour regular-season event in South Korea tied at 9-under 279.

Cameron Smith of Australia finished one stroke back in third place at 8-under with Whee Kim, the highest placed finisher of the 16 South Korean players in the field, finishing fourth at 7-under after closing with a 72.

Thomas’ five tournament wins this year included his first major, the 99th PGA Championship, which he won in August.

Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., was the top Canadian at 1 under. Adam Hadwin, also from Abbotsford, finished 7 over.