Justin Thomas was unable to hold off Scottie Scheffler in the final round of the Hero World Challenge, but the former world No. 1 was still encouraged by his game as he heads into the new year.
Justin Thomas says he is feeling “very close” to hitting his peak form again after wrapping up his season with a solid showing at the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas.
Thomas delivered an impressive performance throughout the week at Albany, especially off the tee – following a driver adjustment that gave him an extra 10 to 15 yards distance. His newfound prowess positioned him as the frontrunner for Sunday’s finale, though he was eventually overtaken by Scottie Scheffler.
Facing off against world No. 1 Scheffler in the final pair, Thomas knew he needed a low score to keep the lead, but ended up recording a modest one-under 71, while his Ryder Cup comrade blazed through to a nine-under 63, securing the title consecutively.
Even with the disappointment of not closing out on top, Thomas remains optimistic about his future prospects. He reflected post-round: “I’m very excited,” adding, “Yeah, I feel very, very close, I just need to sharpen some things up. Just need to kind of get the scoring clubs a little bit sharper and better.”
“I feel like my mid irons and iron game is close to where I want it, but if I can just get those wedges back where I feel like they should be and how they are for me, I feel like things will be good.”
Despite towering eA year on, the American golfer displayed some improvement, breaking into the first two playoff events only to miss out on the season-culminating Tour Championship in August. Undoubtedly, 2023 proved the more challenging of his years, despite flickers of his past brilliance surfacing during this campaign.
However, his sights are now focused on the larger celebration in 2025, which he has not done since winning at PGA Championship in 2022. Further emphasis is provided to the following 2025 season as the Ryder Cup is to take place in it, the tournament Thomas wants to qualify for on merit.
Nevertheless, his qualification for the 2023 America’s Cup Team came into controversy when Zach Johnson selected him via the captain armband where he relied on the youngster’s manufacturing quality and not his performances. Though, more ahead, the dual major champion is keen to leave no trace of ambiguity about his qualification at Bethpage Black.
“I wanted to be there irrespective of the situation,” Thomas said in reference to matchplay activity expected early next September. The comments were made in the run-up to the match last week following talks that for the first time in 2025, he and his fellow Americans in the Ryder Cup team, would be eligible for remuneration for their efforts.
In the case of the efficiency of the site, he had the following to say: “I’m not involved in the business side but I get it from both ends,” he said. And at the end of day, I think like the rest of the United States and Europe we still enjoy the Ryder Cup and as it is very clear we will play irrespective of anything. It could just be because, you know what, some people think that that’s how it is and, well, that’s the way it has to be.