Justin Thomas has just done something which Xander Schauffele did before his double-major winning 2024 season

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If there’s one player who could threaten Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, and Rory McIlroy on the PGA Tour in 2025, it’s Justin Thomas.

Thomas, a two-time major winner, struggled for much of last season, often following good rounds with disappointing ones. The 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon highlighted the American’s challenging year.

Thomas was in contention after his three-under 68 in the first round, but he carded a 78 on day two. On Saturday, Thomas shot his lowest-ever nine-hole score at The Open during the front nine. Consistency could have made all the difference for the 31-year-old on Scotland’s west coast.

After ending the season well, Thomas has been working hard on his game, especially his driving, as he aims to add extra distance. A second-place finish at the ZOZO Championship, the headline FedEx Cup fall event in Japan, demonstrated that Thomas’ game might be trending in the right direction.

Justin Thomas emulates Xander Schauffele ahead of the 2025 PGA Tour season

Xander Schauffele added length off the tee to compete with the PGA Tour’s longer hitters before his double-major winning season.

Schauffele’s physical improvements helped him gain speed, and it’s something Thomas has also been working on intently.

Thomas’ recent Instagram post revealed a ball speed of 185mph and club head speed of 124.5mph, which would put him among the top five longest players on tour and well above his career averages.

Could Thomas be about to emulate Schauffele’s success after finding a little added impetus off the tee?

• READ MORE: Justin Thomas delivers honest verdict on USA players being paid at the 2025 Ryder Cup

Justin Thomas 2024 PGA Tour driving stats

During the 2024 PGA Tour season, Thomas was let down in two areas: driving and, more specifically, putting.

Although the American’s overall driving stats weren’t great, he was losing severe ground on the greens.

When it came to driving distance, Thomas was actually among the longer hitters, with an average of 309 yards.

However, accuracy was a real issue for the 2022 PGA Championship winner. Thomas ranked 160th on tour for driving accuracy and missed on both sides of the fairway, which often impacts consistent scoring. If half of the course can be eliminated, the game becomes a lot easier.

While pursuing speed and distance can be significant, Thomas must not overlook accuracy.