Thomas hitting form as he eyes PGA and St Andrews
No matter what happens over the weekend – and he is feeling quietly confident about claiming a second PGA Championship – Justin Thomas feels his game is literally going to be in good shape for the 150th Open at St Andrews in July.
In blowy conditions at Southern Hills in Tulsa – the greens had not been cut overnight due to the forecast – the American produced a masterclass in golf ball control as he carded a second successive 67 to reach the halfway stage in the season’s second major sitting on sixunder-par.
Thomas, the 2017 winner, is hoping to use his strong start as a springboard to get his hands back on the Wanamaker Trophy tomorrow, but, at the same time, he already has one eye on that trip to Fife later this year.
“I think it’s definitely more important some weeks than others,” said Thomas of his shot-shaping skills after yesterday’ssecondround.“youget to a place like a Palm Springs where the wind doesn't blow and the greens are pretty soft, it’s just see pin, hit pin and go from there. But, especially in a couple of months, when we get to St Andrews, I would like to think and hope that it’s going to be pretty useful, being able to get some balls not necessarily close to the hole, but around the hole.
“But that's a long way away and we're just hoping that what I'm doing here just continues to work for this course.”
Working brilliantly in tandem with his experienced caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, Thomas signed for four birdies, including a walk-in one from about 10 feet to finish, in his second circuit. His 134 total equalled his best opening 36-hole score in a major, having also reached halfway on that mark when finishing joint-sixth in this event in 2018.
“Yeah, very pleased,” said Thomas of his work so far in Oklahoma. “Although I played solid yesterday, I played really, really well today. The conditions were obviously very difficult.
“I stayed very patient, tried to get in my own little world and get in a zone and just tried to execute each shot the best I could. I felt we did a great job of that and am glad to have a good round to show for it.”
Thomas had talked about perhaps too much pressure on himself in majors in recent years. What has changed so far this week?
“I don't know,” he replied. “It's golf, so it's pretty hard sometimes. I mean, I like this golf course. I feel like I’m playing well. We’re halfway through so it's still a long way from home.
“But I'm very, very pleased with where everything is at and the frame of mind and state of mind that I'm in. Just need to try to maintain that the best that I can and keep trying to play good golf.”
Dustin Johnson and Patrick
Cantlay, the two players in the same group as Thomas, did not produce much of that over two days as they missed the cut, as did world number one and Masters champion Scottie Scheffler.
Looking almost unbeatable as he racked up four title triumphs in six starts earlier in the year, Scheffler was brought crashing back to earth as he stumbled home in 40 for a 75 that left him alongside former world number one Johnson (73) and Scot Russell Knox, inset (73).
As for Fedex Cup champion Cantlay, he has really gone off the boil, as was clearly evident in rounds of 76 and 75. Two-time winner Brooks Koepka and fellow major champion Shane Lowry both reached the halfway stage sitting on twoover, though they did so in contrasting fashion.
Koepka started the second day outside the top 100 after an opening 75, but, digging deep to avoid an early exit, it was more like it from the American as he bounced back with a gutsy 67.
“I putted really well,” he said, though it would have been a better day’s work, if he had been able to convert a short par putt at his closing hole.
“Short game is right where it should be. Chipping it well, putting it well and that’s what kind of saved me today. If you get out of position in the rough, it’s difficult to play this place.”
On the greens not being cut, he said: “They’re definitely slower. They can’t get that fast anyway, just because they’re pretty slopey, but I don't think these green surfaces are the smoothest to begin with.
“And then after not mowing them, you see a little of a trample effect and everything, so it’ll be nice to have some fresh greens this weekend.”
In contrast, Lowry, having opened with a 70, had made a thrust up the leaderboard after going out in two-under before coming home in 39, which included a double-bogey six at the fourth.
Englishman Matt Fitzpatrick, who had been tipped by many to be in the mix this week, backed up his opening 68 with an equally-impressive 69 to sit just three shots behind Thomas.
“Really, really happy,” said Fitzpatrick as he looked ahead to today’s third round. “Just got to build on it tomorrow, and yeah, looking forward to it.”
Maintaining his splendid form this year, it was also so far, so good for Irishman Seamus Power as he matched Fitzpatrick’s second-day score to sit on one-under, three better than US Open champion Jon Rahm after he also signed for a 69.
“Could have been one or two better here or there, but, overall, not too bad,” said Power of his endeavours so far.
Rory Mcilroy, the ovenight leader after an opening 65, was among the later starters on day two, as was Scottish number one Bob Macintyre, who, in his bid to extend a run of making the cut in majors to nine out of nine, had given himself a solid foundation with a 70 on Thursday.