Smylie Kaufman predicts how Justin Thomas will get on at The Masters next month with one criticism shared

Add as preferred source on Google

Justin Thomas could not have done a lot more to impress without actually winning on the PGA Tour over the last few months.

Of course, Justin Thomas is dealing with some disappointment again after finishing second at the Valspar Championship this past week. The 31-year-old boasted a three-shot lead at one stage down the back nine on Sunday at Innisbrook.

However, two bogeys in his final three holes presented Viktor Hovland with the chance to swoop in and snatch the title. With that, Thomas’ wait for a first win since the 2022 PGA Championship goes on.

But there is no doubt at all that Thomas is knocking on the door.

Smylie Kaufman makes a prediction about Justin Thomas ahead of the Masters

And there is arguably no better place to play when in good form than Augusta National, with only a couple of events now ahead before the first major of the year.

Thomas has not got the best record at the Masters in recent times. He has missed the cut in each of the last two years, while he has two top 10s in nine appearances at the event during his career.

Nevertheless, speaking on The Smylie Show, Smylie Kaufman insisted that he is excited about Thomas’ chances this time around following his latest performance.

“I think he’s going to have a great major season. I think Quail’s a great start. I think Augusta, he’s due for another good week there. I would be surprised honestly, if he didn’t find his way into contention in those last two or three groups on Sunday. It just feels like he’s going to be super competitive, especially the way he’s driving the golf ball, the putter’s definitely started to improve a little bit too. If you’re a JT fan, a lot to like about his game right now,” he said.

Kaufman’s one criticism of Justin Thomas following the Valspar Championship

Thomas must be wondering how exactly he was unable to win the Valspar, particularly with Hovland also looking to end a long wait for a victory at the event. The Norwegian’s form has been nowhere near as impressive.

But Thomas found trouble off the tee on 16, with his drive leaving him in the trees and needing to chip out. And Kaufman suggested that, with the benefit of hindsight, Thomas could have perhaps made a smarter decision with his club selection.

“The two out of three bogeys on the last three, of course Snake Pit is difficult, I think if there’s one criticism you could make – and I think this is the question I ask about this, which is the 16th hole, he has always hit driver on that hole in his career, where Viktor Hovland hit a long iron, I think the question I ask here is is it the right thing to do knowing that you have a lead is to hit something to where you know it’s not going to get into trouble? Now, you very well could hit a five wood in the water and second guess; it’s easy to play morning quarterback now and saying, ‘well, you should have hit a five wood’, or ‘you should have hit a three wood’, and maybe he’s not comfortable with those clubs on that tee, but it’s worth asking because Viktor Hovland hits long iron, seven iron to four feet, makes a birdie, and it’s a two-shot swing,” he added.

“He’s hit plenty of great drivers on that hole in his career, but in that moment, all he had to do is to make sure he didn’t hit it in the water. And of course, it goes through the fairway, into the trees, has to punch out and still makes a bogey.”

In fairness to Kaufman, Thomas’ driving has not been a huge strength of his game so far this year. According to the PGA Tour website, he ranks 108th for strokes gained off the tee in 2025.

So it will be very interesting to see how that part of his game handles the pressure should he indeed put himself in the mix on Sunday at Augusta.