Molinari in six-way tie for lead at Italian Open

MONZA, Italy: Defending champion and home favorite Francesco Molinari was among six players who shared a one-stroke lead after the opening round of the Italian Open.
Jamie Donaldson, Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Eddie Pepperell, Matt Wallace and Alexander Bjork also shot 7-under 64s Thursday at the Golf Club Milano, next to Monza’s Formula One circuit.
George Coetzee and An Byeong-hun were both one stroke back in the Rolex Series event, which has an increased purse of $7 million this year as part of the buildup to the 2022 Ryder Cup outside Rome.
Masters champion Sergio Garcia stood in a group two strokes behind the leaders, while playing partner and fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm was among those three shots behind.
Tommy Fleetwood, who leads the Race to Dubai ahead of Garcia and Rahm, had some ground to make up after a par 71.
Molinari chipped in for birdie at No. 18, his ninth hole of the day, and finished with nine birdies and two bogeys.
“I started pretty much where I left off last year,” Molinari said.
With no ticket fees, Molinari had a lot of fan support.
“It’s great to see the crowds,” he said. “I think there’s a nice buzz around the place and I’m happy and proud to be part of it.”
Thailand’s Aphibarnrat led for most of the morning after sinking four birdies in his first eight holes before saving par at the 18th.
“This course really suits my game — small greens, quite a narrow golf course — and my driver and putter are working so well,” Aphibarnat said.
Thomas falters in CIMB Classic title defense
Two-time defending champion Justin Thomas got off to a shaky start at the CIMB Classic Thursday with a two-under-par 70, which left him languishing at the back of the pack.
Australian Cameron Smith, ranked number 151 in the world, took the lead with a sparkling eight-under-par 64.
Thomas was in tied 23rd place and other favorites also fared badly at the PGA Tour event in Malaysia, with both Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama and India’s Anirban Lahiri trailing the leaders.
Thomas is coming off the back of a breakthrough season during which he racked up five wins including a maiden major victory and was named the 2017 PGA Tour Player of the Year.
The world No. 4 is hoping for a third consecutive win at the CIMB Classic, and opened his campaign with three birdies in the first nine holes at TPC Kuala Lumpur.
But the American, who started on the 10th, faltered after his promising start and hit three bogeys, leaving him to play catch-up against Smith.
It was his second-worst round in his CIMB Classic career.
Smith scored eight birdies to become the solo overnight leader.