CROMWELL (Conn.) — Sometimes, you just have to watch the ball pass through the net. If your shot isn’t working, you can always take it up to the rack and get a bucket.
Justin Thomas has been doing that at this week’s Travelers Championship and it is good to see.
Thomas found himself in a difficult situation after tying 65th place at the PGA Championship, and missing out on the Memorial and U.S. Open.
It’s the lowest I have ever felt. Thomas described his scores as “horrible and embarrassing”.
The 30-year old posted an 81 in the second round at the U.S. Open, and appeared lost. Thomas had moved to Cromwell in Connecticut a few weeks later, where he was preparing for TPC River Highlands, the last designated event of regular season.
He hasn’t had a great history at the Travelers. In seven starts, he only made four cuts and finished third in 2016, his best finish. The golf course is known to be a place that allows low scores. It’s the perfect place for the ball to go through the net.
Thomas’ opening round of 70 was not the story on Thursday. The Louisville native suddenly needed to play well on Friday in order to make the cut, which was 4 under.
He delivered, firing a 6-under 64. The dinner could have tasted better but the bogeys at 17 and 18 made it bitter.
Thomas started off quickly on a drenched TPC River Highlands course on Saturday.
After a par at No. Thomas, who started the round on the back-nine, birdied both the par-4 and par-3 12th. He lost momentum after a bogey on the 14th, but gained it back with circles at 15th and 16.
Thomas finished with a 4-under-31 after adding another birdie on the 18th.
He added a birdie to the second hole, before chipping in at the par-4 fourth. This was his highlight of the afternoon.
16 birdies on his last 29 holes
@JustinThomas34 currently sits T5 @TravelersChamp. pic.twitter.com/lLuqJvuL8t
— PGA TOUR June 24th, 2023
Thomas added two more circles on his card as he returned home. He signed for an 8-under-62 in the third round.
Thomas said to Amanda Renner, speaking with CBS after his game: “I’m enjoying playing golf this week.”
This week’s PGA championship is a perfect reminder that golf is supposed to be a fun game.
Thomas will continue to return to form next week in Detroit as he is set to debut. Thomas will have another chance to score low — Tony Finau was 26 under par last year.
First, we need to push hard for the title in New England
