For the primary time in a very long time, Justin Thomas sits atop a PGA Tour leaderboard.
He carded a phenomenal 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 a minimum of a share of the lead on the finish of a spherical because the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills, the place he defeated Will Zalatoris in an exhilarating playoff. Golf statistician Justin Ray supplied this eye-popping stat after Thomas’ spherical.
“It’s all the time good to get off to begin and even higher to get off to a fantastic one. I felt like I used to be in nice management of the whole lot. After I missed it, I missed it in the best spots and had plenty of actually high quality photographs,” Thomas stated Thursday.
“Like several golfer, I might have beloved to complete these final 5 holes a little bit bit higher, however I performed actually, actually strong at this time, and that par putt on 17 was enormous. I like going bogey-free, in order that was good. I might have had a distinct 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 come back, as the previous Alabama star rolled his par-breaker in from 13 toes.
4 consecutive birdies adopted on holes 5 by means of eight, and out of the blue, 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 once 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 by way of situations. If you drive it properly like I did for probably the most half, you may have plenty of brief golf equipment, and I see nothing however the pin. You may have alternatives to get the ball shut with some slopes, but when I’ve quantity, for probably the most half, I’m attempting to determine how I can hit it as shut as doable. I’m not scared to take action.”
Thomas hit it shut quite a few instances, 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 could not shock anybody to see him lurk towards the highest of the leaderboard all through the weekend. He has quietly completed that loads of instances all through 2024, most not too long ago tying for fifth on the Vacationers Championship. However he has but to file a win since Southern Hills, and Thomas is not going to be absolutely happy with himself and his recreation till he snaps this two-year drought.
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. Remember to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may observe him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
