By ,
Published January 13, 2015
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (SportsNetwork.com) - Ryan Moore fired a course-record 9-under 63 on Thursday to grab a 2-stroke lead at the end of the first round of the CIMB Classic.
Moore is seeking his third career win on the PGA Tour and his first since the 2012 Shriners Hospitals for Children Open.
Keegan Bradley carded a 7-under 65 during his opening round at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club's West Course to claim second place, while Sergio Garcia owns third at 6-under 66.
Rory Sabbatini, Boo Weekley, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Chris Kirk and Chris Stroud shot matching 67s to share fourth.
Moore stumbled out of the gate with a bogey at the first, but he would not drop a shot for the remainder of the day and bounced back with three straight birdies from the fourth to reach 2-under.
He stayed hot with three birdies in a four-hole span from the eighth. Moore then claimed the outright lead at minus-8 with another run of three straight birdies at Nos. 14, 15 and 16.
He closed with a birdie at the last to grab a 2-stroke lead.
Bradley had earlier opened his round with a par at the first before rolling in back-to-back birdies at the second and third.
He added three straight birdies from the fifth to move to 5-under.
After parring his next six holes, the 2011 PGA Championship winner converted consecutive gains at the 14th and 15th. He parred his final three holes to set the clubhouse mark at 7-under before Moore's late push.
Garcia recorded six birdies during his bogey-free round to move into contention.
NOTES: Moore's first-round lead is the fifth lead/co-lead of his PGA Tour career through 18 holes and the first since Wells Fargo Championship in May ... Defending champion Nick Watney struggled to a 3-over 75 on Thursday and sits in a share of 65th place.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/moore-claims-early-cimb-classic-lead