Troon, Scotland. When Justin Thomas claimed his last win at the PGA Championship at Southern Hills in May 2022 the future looked promising that the talented Kentuckian would be at the very top of the world rankings.
Now 29th in the world rankings, Thomas showed plenty of life in being among the leaders of the 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon and scoring a three-under-par 68 to lie just two shots off the lead.
Thomas showed early form at last week's Scottish Open with an opening round of 62. However, he then limped home with rounds of 72, 71 and 71 to finish T62.
Justin's track record in Open play has also been lacking. In 7 previous appearances there have been three missed cuts and no finish higher than a T11 in 2019.
Prior to this week he has started 15 times with 5 top tens but also two missed cuts at the Masters and the US Open.
Now with another quality start Thomas is looking for more success.
"I played really solid, got it around. I felt like I had great control of the ball. I hit a lot of fairways, which is a key I would say to any major, but definitely in an open being able to control the ball coming into the greens. A little bit of a hiccup in the beginning of the back nine but stayed patient and kept plugging kind of thing."
The 15-time PGA Tour winner had to adjust accordingly in dealing with vexing wind conditions.
"It just was tricky because it (the wind) was pretty solid, I'd say 15 to 20, whatever, 15-ish. I just had not played that front nine into the wind before, and that was wild. Hitting some clubs -- I remember driving -- trying to drive 1 and 3 in 2016, and I hit 7-iron into 1 today, and I hit a 3-wood up there on 3 to have wedge in.
But it just was very, very different. But it just was all very typical of an Open, just trying to make the best out of the conditions that you have."
The peaks and valleys are a constant item of attention for any professional golfer. For Thomas the resilience to move forward is the driving force.
"I'm very pleased with my game and know things are continuing to work in the right direction. I've just got to keep trying to play well."
Smart thinking goes hand-in-hand with superior execution and Thomas made the appropriate adjustments and finished off the round with two consecutive birdies at the 17th and 18th holes.
There are still 54 holes to play but for Justin there's no doubting Thomas here. That self-belief is now his rallying cry to achieve his best finish ever in an Open.
"I feel like everything has been turning the right way, and I've been working on the right things. Just like I said, I haven't really had much to show for it. That's just how this game works sometimes.
But I know that I'm close the way it is, and I'm just going to keep playing and not play for results, just play for my game, and it'll take care of itself."
Related: Shane Lowry cards flawless 66 to take clubhouse lead
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