Justin Thomas missed the minimize at The Open, and he has two weeks to attempt to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs (plus add to a Ryder Cup resume).
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Justin Thomas is aware of he wants to pad his resume for the upcoming Ryder Cup. But to do this he wants to play in additional tournaments. But to do this he wants to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs. And to do this he wants to enter extra tournaments.
Are you following?
Thomas, the No. 24 golfer on the planet, is probably the most adorned participant on this week’s 3M Open in Blaine, Minn., after he was a late addition to the sector. He additionally added subsequent week’s Wyndham Championship, the final PGA Tour occasion of the common season, to his taking part in schedule.
If you’re sensing a theme, it’s as a result of the two-time main winner is No. 75 within the FedEx Cup standings, and he wants begins to get sufficient factors to qualify for the playoffs — one thing he’s by no means missed in his earlier eight seasons on Tour.
The high 70 qualify for the primary of three playoff occasions, the FedEx St. Jude Championship, with 50 qualifying for the BMW Championship and 30 for the Tour Championship.
“In the past I may just be able to rely on a good first event or two in the playoffs, but the way it is now, you have to play some good golf to be in the playoffs, and I haven’t exactly done that so far,” Thomas stated Tuesday on the 3M Open, the place he’s making his event debut. “So I have two weeks to get myself in a good spot.”
Thomas missed the minimize ultimately week’s Open Championship at Royal Liverpool, his destiny sealed by an opening-round 82, his highest profession rating in a significant. He shot 71 on Friday, however the injury was already executed. It was his third missed minimize in a significant this season.
While he’s been pissed off with his play, he chalked up Thursday’s 82 as a fluke.
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“I made two doubles and a quad, right? That’s literally middle school golf-type stuff,” he stated. “I’m way too good of a player to be doing stuff like that. I don’t know if it’s a lack of focus or discipline or whatever. I played really good golf on Friday. It’s a little different when you’re just shipping driver around there everywhere and you’re just kind of hoping for the best. I knew I needed to go shoot seven, eight, nine under, but I have full belief that I can do that.”
Thomas acquired to Minnesota on Saturday afternoon however took the weekend off from taking part in golf. He stated he watched each shot of The Open and even the end of the Barracuda afterward Sunday. He discovered time to do laundry and get a exercise in, too.
He thinks his sport is shut and that he’s taking part in higher golf than the scores point out. He cited rounds of 64 and 62 on the Travelers Championship final month that show it. He tied for ninth that week, however that’s his solely occasion within the final seven that’s been a end higher than T60.
The different storyline right here is, in fact, the Ryder Cup. Thomas has not been shy about how a lot the occasion means to him, however after Brian Harman shot up the rankings with his win in Hoylake, Thomas now sits 14th within the standings. The high six after the BMW Championship auto qualify, and captain Zach Johnson will title his six captain’s picks after the Tour Championship.
Thomas’ success within the occasion — 6-2-1 file, and 16-5-3 general together with Presidents Cups — will make it exhausting for Johnson to overlook him, however a few good weeks in Minnesota and North Carolina to safe a playoff berth and one other begin or two is perhaps precisely the increase his resume wants.
Although if these two weeks don’t go nicely and he misses the playoffs, then the dialog will get trickier. Johnson and Thomas additionally shared a rental ultimately week’s Open, and Johnson was requested a number of questions on Thomas’ standing following Thursday’s 82.
“Bottom line is this game is really hard. There’s going to be peaks. There’s going to be some valleys,” Johnson stated. (*2*)
Thomas is grouped with Joel Dahmen and Gary Woodland for the primary two rounds of the 3M Open. Their Round 1 tee time is 1:54 p.m. ET.
“This is a good chance for me to learn a little bit about myself and push myself and become better,” Thomas stated. “I mean, this game, nothing’s given to you.”
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