Golf

Pat Perez holds his nerve to seal Kuala Lumpur win

American shoots Sunday 69 to finish four clear of compatriot Keegan Bradley

Pat Perez after winning the 2017 CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur. Photograph: Mohd Rasfan/AFP

Sun Oct 15 2017 - 11:16

Pat Perez avoided any last-day dramas to take the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur.

Entering Sunday with a four-shot lead, the American fired a three-under 69 to finish on a stunning 24 under par for the week.

Compatriot Keegan Bradley was his nearest challenger, a five under for the day taking him to 20 under overall.

PGA Rookie of the Year Xander Schauffele, second overnight, played out a par round of 72 to end third, while Cameron Smith broke into the top five with an eight-under 64. Even that, though, left him eight short of Perez.

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England's Paul Casey also finished strong on a low-scoring course, a seven-under 65 firing him to 14 under and a share of seventh, but the day belonged to Perez.

“I’m not going to change anything, ” said Perez when asked on course by the PGA Tour how the win would change things for him.

The 41-year-old added: “I’m still not going to work out, will still enjoy myself, have a bad diet! I’ve got my group of friends and I’m not going to change anything.

“I’ll work hard and take it a day at a time. I’m not getting ahead of myself, I don’t look to the past, I’m just doing it.”

It was Perez’s third PGA title, following on from wins at the Bob Hope classic in 2009 and the OHL Classic in November last year.

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