Justin Thomas has etched his name in the annals of PGA Tour history with a record-equalling performance at The PLAYERS Championship. The elite competition, held at the notoriously challenging TPC Sawgrass, saw Thomas redefining the game and setting an unprecedented benchmark.
The Players Championship, hailed as the flagship event of the PGA Tour season, saw 144 entrants vying for victory. Traditionally, TPC Sawgrass has been a formidable venue for players, but this year seemed to bring a change in the tide. Scores in the mid-60s were not uncommon, but it was Justin Thomas who stole the show.
On an extraordinary Friday, Thomas recorded a 10-under 62, matching the course record previously set by Tom Hoge in 2023. The striking feature of this feat was his tally of 11 birdies in a single round, a record in itself, as noted by Justin Ray from The Athletic.
However, Thomas’s remarkable run hit a snag on the 18th tee. A misplaced second shot ended up in the drink, leading him to salvage a bogey with a splendid chip shot. Despite this setback, he signed off with a 62, placing him at 4-under for the tournament and seven shots behind joint leaders Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia.
Thomas’s Friday masterclass was a stark contrast to his performance in the opening round where he finished 6-over after 16 holes. This 16-shot turnaround from Round 1 to Round 2 at TPC Sawgrass also went down in the record books.
Entering Friday’s round, Thomas’s focus was primarily on making the cut. His determination was evident as he started with birdies on the first two holes. Thomas, a former Alabama Crimson Tide player, added three more birdies to his tally on the front nine, wrapping it up with a score of 31.
As he transitioned to the back nine, which has been playing easier according to Rory McIlroy, Thomas knew he needed a few more birdies to make it to the weekend. Following a par on the 10th, he birdied the next four holes, including a remarkable approach shot on the par-4 14th, considered the most challenging hole on the course.
His birdie on the island green of the 17th hole brought spectators to their feet, putting him at 11-under for the round. All he needed was a par on the 18th for a new course record. However, a tee shot into the rough followed by a disappointing shot led to a bogey.
Despite this, Thomas was far from disheartened. Tying the course record was no small feat, and he is now eyeing another historic achievement – the largest comeback win in PGA Tour history. As the weekend unfolds, the world will be watching to see if Justin Thomas can make more history at The PLAYERS Championship.