Justin Thomas is eighteen holes away from his first victory in additional than two years.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photographs
Heading into the ultimate spherical of the Hero World Problem, Justin Thomas is unexpectedly on the precipice of a comeback win. However there may be one issue complicating his feelings with simply 18 holes to go.
Thomas fired a six-under 66 in Saturday’s third spherical at Albany to cross World No.1 Scottie Scheffler and take the lead. If he holds on to win, it will be his first victory in over two years, relationship again to the 2022 PGA Championship.
Despite the fact that the Hero isn’t an official PGA Tour occasion, the win would characterize a significant comeback for the star who has struggled on the course for years, and it will be an amazing signal of issues to come back in 2025.
The ‘new facet’ of Tiger Woods? Justin Thomas has witnessed it up shut
However a number of weeks in the past, one thing even greater occurred in Thomas’ life: he grew to become a father for the primary time.
Thomas and spouse Jillian welcomed their daughter Molly into the world in mid-November, making this the primary time Thomas has performed a match as a dad. It’s additionally the primary time he’s been away from his spouse and daughter for a big period of time because the beginning.
Provided that actuality, he has some blended emotions spinning inside his head this week, describing the push-and-pull between lacking his household and attempting to win a match as a “bizarre mixture” in his press convention Saturday night.
“There’s been numerous issues that crossed my thoughts, however attempting to play in addition to I can and miss my women at dwelling, yeah, it’s a bizarre — it’s a bizarre mixture,” Thomas defined. “Clearly by no means skilled it earlier than, however I’m excited to have an opportunity to win tomorrow and likewise get dwelling to see them tomorrow.”
Thomas additionally revealed that ought to he win on Sunday, it will mark a shocking career-first for the Tour veteran: the primary time his pal Tiger Woods has handed him a trophy.
Due to this membership, Justin Thomas says he’s hitting tee photographs 15 yards longer
“That may be nice,” Thomas stated of the possibility Tiger will current him with the Hero {hardware}. “I’ve had a pair alternatives up to now, nevertheless it’s undoubtedly one thing I’d like to examine off my field in my profession sooner or later.”
This week Thomas has proven plain enchancment from earlier this season. He switched to an extended 46-inch driver shaft and claims to have gained 15 yards off the tee because of this. Win or lose, he acknowledged Saturday that the progress he’s been working exhausting to see is lastly coming to fruition.
“I’ve been progressing properly, been engaged on all the correct issues. Really feel like I’ve been seeing indicators of enchancment, which is what you need and that’s all I can do,” Thomas stated. “I can’t management all people else or what’s occurring, I’ve simply obtained to maintain taking part in nearly as good as I probably can and hope that it’s sufficient come Sunday.”