PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Justin Thomas is not one to wallow in disappointment. After a rough start at The Players Championship, he managed to turn things around. On Friday, he not only made the cut at TPC Sawgrass but made a significant leap toward the top of the leaderboard.
After hitting into the thick rough on the 18th hole, Thomas faced the challenge of saving par. What would have been his 12th birdie of the day slipped away when his shot went awry, landing in the pond. Still, he recovered with a great pitch to save bogey. His score of 61 tied the course record set by Tom Hoge two years ago, an impressive feat considering his performance just a day earlier.
“I’m not letting that last hole overshadow my great round today,” Thomas said, and he was right to feel proud.
Just a day before, he struggled significantly. His driving was off, ranking him last in the field and almost hitting five shots worse than others. He only hit five greens in regulation, leading to his score of nearly 80. Yet, Thomas was undeterred. “It was a fluke,” he remarked, showing confidence in his comeback.
Despite recent challenges, including battling his swing and slipping in the rankings, Thomas’s approach game is back on track. He has finished in the top 10 in six of his last nine tournaments and is again positioned within the world’s top 10.
He expressed frustration not with his score, but with the poor decisions he made on the course. “That’s the kind of stuff that pisses me off,” he admitted, reflecting on how errors compounded. But on this day at TPC Sawgrass, he stayed focused and present, channeling what has been described as one of Scottie Scheffler’s greatest strengths—staying involved in every single shot.
“If I keep playing like this, the opportunities will come,” Thomas noted optimistically. He moved from a tie for 134th to the top 30, now just seven shots off the lead. With challenging winds expected over the weekend, he sees a chance to capitalize.
This isn’t his first time making a comeback at a major tournament. In 2021, he came from behind to win, posting a remarkable third round of 64 and a strong finish on Sunday.
“I’m just glad to be playing,” he said, brimming with enthusiasm. He recalled advice from Coach Nick Saban: celebrate your wins but focus on the next challenge. For Thomas, all that matters now is his next round.
The dynamics of the tournament show how quickly fortunes can change in golf. Fans and analysts alike are keeping a close watch, curious to see if Thomas can replicate his past success. With determination and a sharp focus, he might just do it again.
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