Despite an impressive display during the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship 2025, Justin Thomas’s inconsistency on the greens is raising eyebrows among critics. Thomas, a native of Louisville, staged an astounding performance at TPC Sawgrass, matching the course record with a 10-under-62. However, a bogey on the 18th hole prevented him from breaking the record, and he finished the day with a 4-under par 140.
Having scored 6-over the previous round, Thomas’s magnificent display was seen more as a recovery effort rather than a dominant performance. Despite his remarkable leap on the leaderboard, from T130 to T29, he was still trailing far behind the leaders. His inconsistency and failure to maintain his form saw him finish the tournament at T33, a whole 10 strokes behind the champion.
This has become a recurring narrative in Thomas’s career. The golfer has often shown flashes of brilliance, only to fade into the background within a day. His inability to consistently perform at the top level has kept him from clinching any titles since his last win in 2022.
Thomas’s 12-year stint on the PGA Tour has seen him finish as a runner-up 8 times and secure 13 third-place finishes. However, the question remains: how many of these opportunities were squandered due to his inconsistency? The answer is, quite a few. His performance at the 2023 Fortinet Championship, where he dropped from a stroke behind the leader to 5th position, serves as a prime example.
During a recent discussion on the Golf Channel Podcast, analysts Rex Hoggard and Todd Lewis dissected Thomas’s recent form. Lewis pointed out that Thomas’s game was “not quite where he wants it to be,” and emphasized his need for consistency. He highlighted Thomas’s tendency to have drastically opposite rounds, which makes him a risky bet even when he seems to be dominating.
Hoggard concurred, stating that while Thomas’s ability to make 10 birdies on the TPC Sawgrass under tough conditions indicates that his game is in good shape, the key is to avoid mistakes. He suggested that if Thomas can adopt this mentality, he could pose a serious challenge to top golfers like Rory McIlroy.
In a speculative analysis comparing Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, assuming Thomas avoided mistakes at THE PLAYERS Championship, the results are revealing. McIlroy, the champion, had a score of 12-under par 276, and without his errors, would’ve scored 20-under par 268. Thomas, on the other hand, had 14 bogeys, 2 double bogeys, and a triple bogey, reducing his score by 21 strokes. Interestingly, if he had made fewer mistakes, his 23 birdies could have put him on par with McIlroy, illustrating the significant impact of every added stroke.
As the Valspar Championship unfolds, Thomas will undoubtedly aim to seize the title and secure his first win of the season. However, whether he can overcome his consistency issues remains to be seen. The jury is still out on whether the talented golfer can finally step out of the shadows and claim his place among the world’s top golfers.
