Justin Thomas put a disappointing week at The Masters behind him to produce a masterclass in the opening round of the RBC Heritage, while Scottie Scheffler has also put himself in contention.
Scottie Scheffler had a strange week at The Masters. The world number one was unable to defend his title, as Rory McIlroy managed to win the green jacket. And in truth, it never really felt over the weekend as if Scheffler was in the mix to actually triumph.
And yet, the 28-year-old still managed to finish fourth at Augusta National.
Meanwhile, hopes that Justin Thomas may take his impressive PGA Tour form into the first major of the year were dashed. The two-time major champion finished in a tie for 36th after failing to break 70 across the week.
He very nearly broke 60 in his first round following The Masters.
Justin Thomas and Scottie Scheffler in agreement on Harbour Town after their opening round at
Thomas leads the way at the RBC Heritage after posting a 61 on Thursday at Harbour Town. He made 11 birdies and one bogey to make an amazing start. Scheffler meanwhile, is three back after a flawless first round in Hilton Head.
And it seems that both players are big admirers of the course itself.
“Yeah, I love it. I wish we played more places like it. I think more architects should design places like this. It kind of stands of test of time, I think. Especially if we continue to get weather like this and if these fairways get firm, the greens are already getting firm, it’s going to be everything we want by the end of the week,” Thomas said.
“I just think it’s a really, really cool place that requires you to think on every single shot you’re hitting, and you can’t get lazy.”
Scheffler said: “I love this golf course. I think it’s a tremendous golf course.
“I feel like when I’m playing really good golf, I think with the amount of talent we have out here, most of the guys on tour, if they’re playing really good, they can compete anywhere. I think it’s more just having that self-belief. Is this a golf course I think I can have success on? For sure. You’ve got to be accurate. You’ve got to be able to work the ball both ways, and I feel like that’s something that I’m able to do, and you’ve got to be pretty accurate, as well.”
Scheffler and Thomas both have a point to prove after The Masters
Both Thomas and Scheffler emerge from the opening weeks of the season with a point to prove. Thomas has certainly played as well as he possibly could without actually winning on tour – he has finished second on three occasions since the Tour Championship.
Scheffler’s form is also looking ominous for his rivals. Fans have not seen the best of him yet, and yet, he has still not finished outside the top 25. When everything clicks, he is going to be a force once again.
The interesting thing for both players – in light of McIlroy’s win at Augusta – is both of their two majors each have come at the same event. They are amongst a host of names with two majors to their name. However, they are both three wins away from the career grand slam.
Obviously, that will not be on either players’ mind right now. But they have the quality to win several more majors in the coming years.
Now is perhaps the time to gain more momentum as major championship season really gets going.
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