Sepp Straka and Justin Thomas were paired together on day three of the Truist Championship at the Philadelphia Cricket Club on Saturday.
Straka is tied for the lead at the Truist Championship alongside Shane Lowry heading into the final round of the PGA Tour Signature Event on Sunday.
The Austrian sits three shots clear of Thomas – his playing partner on day three.
Thomas has a 10-year-old 5-wood in his bag for the Truist Championship, because he feels as though he can shape the ball better than he can with newer models.
And the 31-year-old certainly did that on day three at Philadelphia Cricket Club.
He made two sixes on Saturday, but still managed to shoot a round of four-under-par 66, and the RBC Heritage champion will fancy his chances ahead of the final day’s play on Sunday.
Sepp Straka gives Justin Thomas verdict after day three at the Truist Championship
Most people won’t be aware of the fact that Straka and Thomas have played against one another for years, going all the way back to their junior days.
So playing alongside the two-time major champion was nothing new for the 32-year-old Austrian.
How did he find the experience of battling against Thomas in one of the later groups on a Saturday though?
Well, he certainly didn’t show any sign of nerves, and matched Thomas’s round of 66.
Straka responded when asked if he enjoyed playing alongside the 16-time PGA Tour winner at Philadelphia Cricket Club on Saturday.
He said, “Yeah, for sure, definitely. The crowds make it fun. It’s really fun to have those guys. I got to play with JT today, and he always has a big following.
“The fans were incredible all week really. Since Wednesday in the practice rounds, they were out here. It’s been really fun to play in front of the Philly fans.
“Yeah, probably. It’s nice if they’re not shooting 80 or something. That would kind of throw you out of your rhythm a little bit. Yeah, JT and I have had a nice back and forth. I’ve played with him since junior golf days, and it was a really fun group out there.“
Justin Thomas criticises PGA Tour courses
Thomas spoke to reporters earlier this week, and made it very clear that he doesn’t like the route that golf course architecture is heading.
After his second round, Thomas insisted that the PGA Tour need to make par-threes shorter, when asked about the holes he likes at Philadelphia Cricket Club:
“I really, I mean, like I don’t dislike any of them. I mean, I think 14 is an awesome hole, the short par three,” Thomas admitted.
“I will take that to my grave, that short par threes are just so much better than any long par three, I don’t think I’ve ever played a par three over 200 yards that I would call memorable for its design versus, it seems like all par threes that are short like that are great.”
He is spot on as well. If you think of the best par-threes in golf, only short ones come to mind – the 7th at Pebble Beach, The Postage Stamp at Royal Troon and the 17th at Sawgrass, just to name a few.
Hopefully the PGA Tour take note of what Thomas said during the Truist Championship.
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