Thomas cruises to WGC title ahead of PGA defence
AKORN: Justin Thomas, limbering up for his PGA Championship title defence this week, fired a one-under par 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 Country Club in Akron, Ohio, 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-under-par 64s as those who began the day with higher 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 on a course where he hasn’t fared so well in the past.
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 Championship at Firestone.
“It’s really cool,” Thomas said. “They don’t get to come out very often any more. This is my first PGA Tour win with them here, so that’s pretty cool.”
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and England’s Ian Poulter, who started the day sharing second three shots behind Thomas, both struggled. Tiger Woods, an eight-time winner at the Firestone club hosting the Bridgestone for the last time, carded his second straight 73 to finish with a share of 31st.