Golf: Six-foot long python interrupts PGA Tour event

The six-foot long python that needed to be removed from the green at a recent PGA Tour event in Malaysia. Photo / Instagram

The perils of taking the PGA Tour out to Malaysia were fully exposed when play was interrupted by a six-foot long python slithering across the course at the Klang Valley resort in Kuala Lumpur.

The club, which opened in 1991, has often had sightings of wildlife on the course - and golfers were again put off their stride by another sociable creature during day two of the 2016 CIMB Classic.

PGA Tour officials were quick to spot the non-venomous intruder heading across one of the greens, with a well-trained snake handler swiftly onto the scene to place the python in a bag before relocating it to a more convenient habitat.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour)

Aside from that unexpected drama, Justin Thomas carded a six-under 66 to claim a two-stroke lead at the halfway stage, staying within striking distance of the tournament record he set in winning the title here last year.

He started the second round in a three-way share of the lead with Keegan Bradley and Derek Fathauer after opening with a 64, and followed up with a bogey-free round containing six birdies to move to 14 under, two shots clear of Asian Tour leader Anirban Lahiri.

Thomas, who won his first PGA Tour title here last year in a tournament record 26 under, wasn't entirely happy with his iron shots and wedges in the second round but remains hopeful of producing some very low scores on the weekend at the TPC Kuala Lumpur.

Thomas said: 'The thing about this course, you can go shoot 12- or 13-under in a day so hopefully I can get it going a little bit this weekend like I did last year.'

His rivals will be hoping for a choke - by Thomas, not the python - over he weekend.

Lahiri had eight birdies but finished with a 66 after a double-bogey on his final hole Friday, leaving him at 12 under.

'Both yesterday and today I've played good - I think I played solid right through,' Lahiri said. 'It's just very disappointing to finish the way I did. Both days I think I left four or five shots out there coming in. I would have liked to be in a better position the way I've played, but it's not over yet.'

Russell Knox, James Hahn and Hideki Matsuyama were in a tie for third at 11 under.

Ryan Moore, who won the CIMB Classic in 2013 and 2014, moved into a share of eighth at 8 under with a 65 in the second round, making up for an opening 71.

Fathauer had a 70 and was in a share of sixth place, and Bradley had a 71 in the second round to slip into a tie for eighth.

There is no cut for the tournament, so the whole field of 78 will play on the weekend.