Justin Thomas is eighteen holes away from his first victory in additional than two years.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Pictures
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 could be his first victory in over two years, relationship again to the 2022 PGA Championship.
Regardless 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 could be an incredible signal of issues to return in 2025.
The ‘new facet’ of Tiger Woods? Justin Thomas has witnessed it up shut
However a couple of weeks in the past, one thing even larger occurred in Thomas’ life: he turned 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 event as a dad. It’s additionally the primary time he’s been away from his spouse and daughter for a major period of time because the delivery.
On condition that actuality, he has some blended emotions spinning inside his head this week, describing the push-and-pull between lacking his household and making an attempt to win a event as a “bizarre mixture” in his press convention Saturday night.
“There’s been loads of issues that crossed my thoughts, however making an attempt to play in addition to I can and miss my ladies 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 could mark a stunning 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 pictures 15 yards longer
“That might be nice,” Thomas stated of the prospect Tiger will current him with the Hero {hardware}. “I’ve had a pair alternatives up to now, but it surely’s undoubtedly one thing I’d like to verify off my field in my profession in some unspecified time in the future.”
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 in consequence. Win or lose, he acknowledged Saturday that the progress he’s been working laborious to see is lastly coming to fruition.
“I’ve been progressing properly, been engaged on all the best 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 acquired to maintain enjoying pretty much as good as I probably can and hope that it’s sufficient come Sunday.”
