Matteson leads with Tiger on the prowl in Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (4E Sports) – Tiger Woods got hot on the back nine and is in the hunt after Thursday’s first round of the CIMB Classic in Malaysia.

Troy Matteson has the lead after eight birdies gave him an opening 63. Matteson leads Jeff Overton, Brian Harman and Robert Garrigus by one stroke.

Woods is three back at 5-under-par 66 in a tie for seventh.

Woods bogeyed Nos. 8 and 9, missing short par putts but then turned up the heat in steamy conditions at the 6,909-yard Mines Resort and Golf Club course

“Turning at even par I felt like I was getting run over there and I felt like I had to shoot something at least three or four-under on the back nine and I happened to get one more,” Woods said.

“What was frustrating was turning in even par and I’m eight back. It is going to take something 20 plus (under) to win the tournament so you got to be aggressive and we got to go get it.”

Matteson birdied his last four holes to jump to the top of the leaderboard. He holed out from a greenside bunker on his final hole to cap a sizzling bogey-free round.

“I knew I’d be doing good if I could leave myself seven or eight feet for par and it bounced and slam dunked in the hole,” Matteson said.

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