For the primary time in a very long time, Justin Thomas sits atop a PGA Tour leaderboard.
He carded a gorgeous 8-under 62, a spherical that featured eight birdies and eight pars, to soar to the highest of the Genesis Scottish Open leaderboard after spherical one. Remarkably, Thomas has not held at the very least a share of the lead on the finish of a spherical for the reason that 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, the place he defeated Will Zalatoris in an exciting playoff. Golf statistician Justin Ray offered this eye-popping stat after Thomas’ spherical.
“It’s all the time good to get off to a superb begin and even higher to get off to a terrific one. I felt like I used to be in nice management of every thing. After I missed it, I missed it in the appropriate spots and had a whole lot of actually high quality photographs,” Thomas stated Thursday.
“Like several golfer, I might have beloved to complete these final 5 holes just a little bit higher, however I performed actually, actually strong as we speak, and that par putt on 17 was enormous. I really like going bogey-free, in order that was good. I might have had a unique style in my mouth strolling off 18.”
Thomas had it going for him, particularly on the entrance 9, the place he made 5 birdies. He made a pleasant three on the par-4 1st, a harbinger of issues to return, as the previous Alabama star rolled his par-breaker in from 13 toes.
4 consecutive birdies adopted on holes 5 by way of eight, and all of a sudden, Thomas discovered himself in the direction of the highest of the leaderboard when he turned to the again 9.
Three extra birdies adopted on the tenth, twelfth, and thirteenth, as Thomas made a 42-foot bomb on the par-3 twelfth.
“I’m assured after I get in that mode,” Thomas defined.
“Clearly, that is as straightforward as you’re going to get a hyperlinks golf course weather-wise and when it comes to circumstances. Whenever you drive it properly like I did for probably the most half, you’ve got a whole lot of quick golf equipment, and I see nothing however the pin. You will have alternatives to get the ball shut with some slopes, but when I’ve a superb quantity, for probably the most half, I’m making an attempt to determine how I can hit it as shut as potential. I’m not scared to take action.”
Thomas hit it shut quite a few occasions, as 5 of his eight birdies got here from inside six toes. He was dialed in all day till he hit a borderline shank on the par-5 sixteenth. However he nonetheless managed to two-putt for par, a testomony to how properly he performed Thursday.
The 2-time main winner holds a one-shot lead over Sungjae Im going into Friday’s spherical. Whether or not he can sustain this excessive degree of play stays to be seen, however it might not shock anybody to see him lurk towards the highest of the leaderboard all through the weekend. He has quietly completed that loads of occasions all through 2024, most not too long ago tying for fifth on the Vacationers Championship. However he has but to report a win since Southern Hills, and Thomas is not going to be totally happy with himself and his sport till he snaps this two-year drought.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying Via. Make sure you try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.