Charlotte – It is understandable that Justin Thomas arrived in the Kowl Khokhale with a load of confidence for this week’s PGA Championship.
He admitted on Tuesday that he could have a lot of companies in that category.
“I would say that it is slightly different from other big companies, it is a place and a course we play annually, for Wales Fargo and now for Truest,” Thomas said. “I would say that this is a course that many of us have a lot of rounds.”
But Thomas is unique that he has already won a major win on this layout. He won his first head in this course in 2017 and after five years, a second PGA championship in Southern Hills.
So the Qulel Khokhale, who hosted this year’s championship, has only increased expectations for Thomas, who has been a repetition winner at other places on tour.
“I hit the shots. I made a put,” he said. “I have handled everyone mentally on this accurate golf course in this accurate tournament.”
Thomas had a winning score of 8-under 276 in 2017, when the tournament was mid-August.
“It was eight years ago,” he said. “It was a completely different golf course. It was maintained in August in Bermuda vs May. As much as I would like to say yes (that it is over), I think it’s a little stretch. But the fact that I know the golf course and I think some success on this is certainly helpful.”
While the curriculum has changed, he said that there are familiar aspects that enjoy coming back to Hallow.
“By looking at it, it is as ancient as usual, and it will be a great test,” he said.
The first PGA Championship marked the fifth of Thomas’s 16 wins on the PGA Tour. In many ways, it acts as an introduction.
“I was very lucky to get success at an early age,” he said. “But when you are 23, 24 years old, it is the same as you have nothing to think or worry. You have no mark tissue. …
“Earlier in your career, it is different – it is a similar mentality that clearly we want to win and set a lot of fire and we work hard, but it’s a different kind.”
32-year-old Thomas has struggled in three of his last four tournaments, winning the RBC Heritage last month and going to the Valpar Championship and a pair of runner-up finish at the last weekend Trust Championship.
In many ways, he is far more expensive than the 24-year-old, which held the 18th green hearing in 2017, hearing the roar of the crowd.
“I feel great about my game,” he said. “I would like to think and hope that I am a more mature person and golfer.”
-Bob Sutton, Field Level Media
