Thomas hits straps ahead of PGA
THOMAS: AMERICAN HITS HIS STRAPS IN TIME FOR PGA
Justin Thomas, limbering up for his PGA Championship title defence, fired a one-underpar 69 on Sunday to win the WGC Bridgestone Invitational by four strokes.
On a day when his nearest rivals were fading, overnight leader Thomas stayed steady at Firestone, producing two birdies and one bogey and finishing with a 15-under-par total of 265.
That left him four clear of American Kyle Stanley, who carded a two-under par 68 for 269.
World No 1 Dustin Johnson and Denmark’s Thorbjorn Olesen shared third place on 270, both storming home with six-underpar 64s as those who began the day with high hopes floundered.
“I’m glad I finally played well around here,” said Thomas, who claimed his first victory in an elite World Golf Championships event.
The 25-year-old said he got “a little choked up” when he saw his grandparents in the crowd.
His grandfather, Paul, played in the 1960 event at Firestone.
Ulsterman Rory McIlroy and England’s Ian Poulter, who started the day sharing second, three shots behind Thomas, both struggled.
McIlroy’s three-over 73 left him tied for sixth on 272, while Poulter fired a four-over 74 thet left him on 273.
The event’s final edition at Firestone offered little drama as no one got within two of Thomas.
The American, who won twice early this season before hitting a dry spell that included a missed cut at the British Open, will defend his PGA Championship title at Bellerive in St Louis, Missouri, in the final Major of the season starting Thursday. –