Justin Thomas sets yet another record
JUSTIN Thomas made more history on Sunday at the Sony Open, firing a five-under 65 to set the PGA Tour’s lowest 72hole score at 253.
Thomas sank a 30cm birdie putt on the par-five 18th at the Waialae Country Club course where his 27-under 253 is the lowest four-round score of all time.
“It has been an unbelievable week. Unforgettable,” Thomas said.
He started his round with a seven-shot lead and cruised to victory, finishing seven strokes ahead of runner-up Justin Rose of Britain.
The American, 23, is off to one of the best starts in PGA Tour history. He has won three of his last four tournaments.
That includes a sweep of the Tour’s Hawaii swing as he became the first golfer since Ernie Els in 2003 to win the Tournament of Champions and Honolulu’s Sony Open back-toback. Olympic gold medallist Rose closed with a six-under 64 on Sunday to reach a 20-under 260 total.
Former world No 1 Jordan Spieth finished in solo third with a final round 63 to finish at 19-under, eight shots behind Thomas.
Kevin Kisner and Jamie Lovemark both shot 65 and tied for fourth at 18-under.
Thomas’s epic performance began and ended with him making history in Hawaii.
He became the youngest on the Tour to shoot a 59 in the first round, shot 64 to set the 36-hole record in Friday’s second round, continued with a 65 to tie the 54-hole record on Saturday and set the 72-hole mark on Sunday.
Tommy Armour held the previous 72-hole record with a 254 at the 2003 Texas Open.
Spieth said: “It is pretty unbelievable what JT is doing now. He is showing the world what he is capable of.”
Thomas said he was aware of the record.
“I told [caddie] with two holes left: ‘We need to get one of these last two’.”