TROON, Scotland – Justin Thomas’ opening 62 final week on the Genesis Scottish Open was spectacular however he knew it wasn’t an indication of issues to come back. Rounds of 72-71-71 adopted on the Renaissance Membership and he completed the week tied for 62nd.
By comparability, his first-round 68 on a blustery morning at The Open was totally different. This felt proper.
“I’d say it was higher right now. I felt like I had nice management off the tee. I hit some nice drives and I felt like I used to be artistic on a few of them of simply attempting to carry it towards the winds, off the tees to make the fairways a bit larger and maintain it within the fairways,” mentioned Thomas, who led the early wave at Royal Troon by a shot. “I had a pair occasions that I may have possibly been a bit bit extra aggressive, however I simply felt prefer it wasn’t the correct time or essentially didn’t have to.”
Thomas took benefit of shifting winds that made Troon’s second 9 way more playable with back-to-back birdies to complete his spherical. The shut allowed Thomas to rebound after taking part in Nos. 12 and 13 in 3 over par, a stretch that included an unplayable lie together with his tee shot on the 12th gap.
“I’d a lot relatively hit a 6-iron on 17 [for his approach] or a 4-iron and a wedge into 18 than I hit 5-wood in a follow spherical on 17 and hitting 3-wood, 8-iron into 18,” Thomas mentioned of Thursday’s winds that got here out of the south. “It’s an excellent adjustment, with it being downwind, the ball that begins proper, if you happen to’re attempting to carry it, it’s going to maintain pushing versus into the wind typically it may maintain and combat it a bit bit extra.”
It was a powerful turnaround for a participant who hasn’t performed his finest golf in The Open. In seven earlier begins, his finest end is a tie for 11th in 2019 and he’s missed the lower on the season’s closing main thrice.
Only a 12 months in the past at Hoylake, Thomas shot his worst-ever rating in a significant, an 11-over 82 within the first spherical.
Regardless of his document, Thomas mentioned he loves the hyperlinks expertise.
“If I had to decide on one fashion of golf or in all probability even one golf course the remainder of my life to play, it will be a hyperlinks course. It’s enjoyable,” he mentioned. “You’re not going to get the identical course persistently. I may stand there center of the green on 18 from 180 yards and I really feel like I may hit seven totally different golf equipment, however that’s the enjoyable a part of it and I’ve to make use of a bit little bit of my artistic aspect, which I like doing.”
