The WM Phoenix Open was pure chaos, and Justin Thomas wasn’t shy about sharing just how brutal the conditions were. While the event is famous for its wild crowds and unpredictable energy, it was the wind that caused the biggest headaches for players this year.
Thomas, who fought through the tricky conditions, admitted that the swirling gusts made even the best players look completely lost on the course.
Thomas: “I’ve Never Seen the Wind Switch Like That”
Speaking at the post-tournament press conference, Thomas revealed that the constant changes in wind direction made it nearly impossible to trust a shot.
“For sure. Yeah, it was weird; I drove it great today. I felt like I drove it better, other than two drives, than yesterday. But yeah, just didn’t have the sharpness today. I’ve never seen the wind switch around this place like it did today. It was crazy.” (The Golfing Gazette)
Even for someone as experienced as Thomas, keeping composure in conditions like these was an uphill battle.
“You Can Look Pretty Stupid”—Wind Wreaks Havoc on Matsuyama
Golf is a game of precision, and when Mother Nature decides to change the script on every shot, even the best in the world struggle to adjust. Thomas pointed to Hideki Matsuyama as a prime example of how unpredictable things got.
“It just felt like every shot was doing something different than it either was supposed to do or the shot before that. And in a place like this, when it starts getting firmer, you have to be very precise. You can look pretty stupid.”
Then came the Matsuyama moment—one that summed up the day’s frustration.
“You look at the shots that we hit into 12 today. I looked behind us, Hideki looked like he was posing on one that landed eight yards short of the green.”
Translation? Even when players hit what felt like a perfect shot, the wind had other plans.
Thomas Finishes Strong, But Detry Steals the Spotlight
Despite the chaos, Thomas managed to grind out a strong finish, pleased with how he handled the last few holes. However, the spotlight ultimately belonged to Thomas Detry, who captured his first-ever PGA Tour victory—a historic moment for Belgian golf.
What’s Next for Thomas?
With the PGA Tour heating up, Thomas will look to build on his resilience at the next event. If he can handle wild wind swings and unpredictable conditions, he’s more than ready for the bigger tournaments coming up.
But one thing is clear—this year’s WM Phoenix Open was survival mode, not just golf.
