Justin Thomas on Sunday after his second shot on the 18th gap at Sedgefield Country Club.
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His season at critical threat, his Ryder Cup hopes up within the air, and an undesired prolonged break probably coming, Justin Thomas didn’t sound too anxious. No, he mentioned, he wouldn’t stick round Sedgefield Country Club to watch all of that unfold.
Although possibly another dude — Tustin Jhomas maybe? — may.
“I mean, there’s no — I can’t do anything, unless I dress up and try to start messing some people up,” Thomas mentioned, tongue firmly in cheek. “But if it did occur I really feel prefer it wouldn’t be good juju for the remainder of my 12 months or my profession. …
“Like I said, I can’t do anything at this point. I’ve just got to hope for the best.”
The lightness was a bit surprising.
As was how we got right here within the first place. We’ll begin with the factors from the primary paragraph.
His season at critical threat. True, as stunning as that sounds, contemplating Thomas’ expertise and resume (15 PGA Tour wins, together with two main championships). But Thomas entered this week’s Wyndham Championship, the Tour’s final regular-season occasion, at No. 79 within the participant standings — and solely the highest 70 transfer on to subsequent week’s first leg of the playoffs.
His Ryder Cup hopes up within the air. Also true, as stunning as that sounds, contemplating his report in two appearances (6-2-1), and general zest for the occasion. But the typical rank within the factors standings isn’t unintended — he’s been common, for an prolonged time period. To play within the Ryder Cup requires kind.
An undesired prolonged break probably coming. Miss the playoffs and the Ryder Cup? That provides you one (1) match between now and the primary full week of October. That’s a lot of vary balls.
But right here’s the place issues got actually chaotic.
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Thomas had a probability to make these playoffs. To give U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson one thing to snack on. To play on.
On his closing gap on Sunday.
The earlier 17 had seen standings jostling. Thomas, after strong rounds over the primary three days on the Wyndham, began at No. 72. After 4 holes, he was 73rd. After a 38-foot birdie on 6, he was 71st. A gap later, he was again down to 73, regardless of a par. Then he was 74. At the par-5 fifteenth, he was 71. He eagled. He fist-pumped. He raised his proper index finger. He fist-pumped once more.
Thomas was seventieth.
He stayed there, too, regardless of a bogey on the par-3 16th, the place a gust of wind caught his tee shot in mid-flight and slapped it down, to the entrance of the inexperienced, the place it rolled again to the golf green. He remained at 70 after a par at 17.
Then he was 71st.
On his closing gap on Sunday.
Off the tee on 18, he went left, into the bushes and onto the pine straw, when his minimize shot didn’t minimize. But from there, he hit one of the neatest shots you’ll ever see — a low, hooking 8-iron that almost reached the inexperienced, and almost corkscrewed his physique into the turf due to the follow-through.
And his subsequent shot was simply as memorable.
Unfortunately for him.
Thomas chipped. It bounced. It bounced. It bounced. It bounced off the middle of the flagstick. It bounced 6 inches to the left. He fell to the bottom. He lined his face. His caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, helped him again up. He tapped in for par. He walked to the again of the inexperienced. A leaderboard flashed:
He was 71st.
Thomas mouthed: “Oh my god.”
He thought he was seventieth.
He was performed.
And not performed.
There was some hope for every thing else. Maybe one of many 70 who had been taking part in behind him would lose factors. A rain delay halted play. He signed autographs for some youngsters. He talked to CBS’ Amanda Renner and different reporters. Thomas thought in regards to the disguise right here.
“Yeah, it would have been a lot more incredible if it would have gone in,” he mentioned of his close to pitch-in on 18. “Yeah, it’s simply a lot can occur. I’ve different guys which might be nonetheless on the market each tied with me and forward of me. …
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“I just, I did my part. I played the best I could and I fought as hard as I could and shot the lowest I possibly could. I just have to just hope that somehow it’s good enough.”
Three hours handed. The match ended. Lucas Glover received.
And Thomas was 71st.
Now come the questions.
His season is over.
His Ryder Cup hopes are up within the air.
An undesired prolonged break is coming.
Now what?
Thomas answered.
At 8:11 p.m. ET, he tweeted this:
“Can use adversity as an opportunity to shy away from a challenge, or take it head on. Was a tough season for me, but I actually had fun battling it out and playing golf this week. It’s why we play. Beyond gutted to miss the playoffs, but I’m proud of how hard I fought #onward”
Justin Thomas’ closing spherical on the Wyndham Championship, with his place within the FedEx Cup standings in parentheses
1st, 418-yard par-4: Thomas misses a 19-foot birdie putt simply to the left, and he makes par. (72nd within the FedEx Cup standings)
2nd, 428-yard par-4: Thomas comes up wanting the inexperienced on his second shot, and he makes par. (72nd within the FedEx Cup standings)
third, 164-yard par-3: Thomas hits simply over the inexperienced, and he makes par (72nd within the FedEx Cup standings)
4th, 418-yard par-4: Thomas comes up wanting the inexperienced on his second shot, and he makes par. (73rd within the FedEx Cup standings)
fifth, 533-yard, par-5: Thomas is dwelling in two, however he three-putts from 81 ft, and he makes par. (73rd within the FedEx Cup standings)
sixth, 420-yard, par-4: Thomas makes a 38-foot putt, and he makes birdie. (71st within the FedEx Cup standings)
seventh, 209-yard, par-3: Thomas two-putts from 52 ft, and he makes par. (73rd within the FedEx Cup standings)
eighth, 358-yard, par-4: Thomas comes up wanting the inexperienced on his second shot, and he makes par. (74th within the FedEx Cup standings)
ninth, 407-yard par-4: Thomas comes up simply wanting the inexperienced on his second shot, and he makes par. (72nd within the FedEx Cup standings)
tenth, 435-yard par-4: Thomas two-putts from 28 ft, and he makes par. (71st within the FedEx Cup standings)
eleventh, 468-yard par-4: Thomas hits his second proper of the inexperienced, and he makes par. (72nd within the FedEx Cup standings)
twelfth, 214-yard par-3: Thomas comes up 37 yards wanting the outlet after his tee shot, and he makes par. (71st within the FedEx Cup standings)
thirteenth, 400-yard par-4: Thomas misses his birdie putt to the appropriate, and he makes par. (71st within the FedEx Cup standings)
14th, 511-yard par-4: Thomas misses his birdie putt simply to the appropriate, and he makes par. (71st within the FedEx Cup standings)
fifteenth, 546-yard par-5: Thomas is dwelling in two, he makes a 15-foot putt, and he eagles the outlet. (seventieth within the FedEx Cup standings)
sixteenth, 167-yard par-3: After a late wind gust, Thomas comes up wanting the inexperienced on his tee shot, he pitches to 31 ft, and he makes bogey. (seventieth within the FedEx Cup standings)
seventeenth, 393-yard par-4: Thomas comes up simply wanting the inexperienced on his second shot, and he makes par. (seventieth within the FedEx Cup standings)
18th, 507-yard par-4: Thomas hits his tee shot left, he comes up wanting the inexperienced on his second, he almost chips in on his third shot, and he makes par. (71st within the FedEx Cup standings)
