Justin Thomas made a statement at the start of major championship season as he ended his near-three year wait for a victory on the PGA Tour by winning the RBC Heritage this past week.
Justin Thomas had been playing so well over the last few months. He had finished second on three occasions since last year’s Tour Championship. But clearing that final hurdle once again had been a problem for the 31-year-old.
That was until the RBC Heritage this past week at Harbour Town. Thomas managed to beat Andrew Novak in a playoff in Hilton Head, with the two-time major champion holing a long birdie putt on the first additional hole.
Of course, it has been a turbulent few years for Thomas. He reached world number one back in 2018, and then failed to even make the FedEx Cup playoffs in 2023.
Justin Thomas named as one of the favourites for the PGA Championship next month
But he has been one of the most impressive players on the PGA Tour in the first few months of the year. And that could definitely be significant with the PGA Championship – the major he has won twice – just around the corner.
In fact, the event returns to Quail Hollow this year. It was at the same course that saw Thomas win his first major title eight years ago.
Obviously, it is also a track where Rory McIlroy has thrived during his career, winning four times. But speaking on the Golf Channel Podcast, Todd Lewis suggested that Thomas has to be considered now one of the big favourites for the second major of the year.
“I think he’s two. Obviously, he won the PGA Championship there. I think he has a tremendous amount of comfort on that golf course and a big moment when he won the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow before. He has been trending. Although he finally gets that validation by crossing the threshold today, this is not a shock to me that he won,” he said.
“Yeah, I would put him right behind Rory right now. I would at least put him tied with Scottie, I’ll say that, I’ll give you that. I think it’s Rory one, and then after that it’s probably JT and Scottie Scheffler.”
How Justin Thomas won the last PGA Championship at Quail Hollow
Thomas can take plenty of confidence from his recent form, as well as his performance at the PGA Championship eight years ago.
Plenty has changed since then. But Thomas managed to recover from a slow start to go on and win his first major title. He was actually six shots off the lead after Thursday.
But rounds of 66, 69 and 68 saw him hold off the challenge of Louis Oosthuizen, Patrick Reed and Francesco Molinari.
He recovered from being six shots adrift after the first round, while McIlroy went one better at The Masters this year. So given the way Thomas is playing, he has to feel like he has such a good opportunity, even if he does not fly out of the blocks next month.
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