Thomas wants a win on ‘the homeland’
PALM BEACH GARDENS — Although he’s already won three times and nearly $4 million this season, Justin Thomas would love to win the Honda Classic if only to put an end to the good-natured barbs he’s endured.
“I’d like to get a win on the homeland,” said Thomas, who won his first PGA Tour tournament at the 2015 CIMB Classic in Malaysia, defended that title in October and won back-to-back events in Hawaii last month.
“Not only for me, but everyone can stop making fun of me that I can’t win on the homeland.”
The Honda starts today on the Champion course at PGA National Resort & Spa. Thomas, 23, a native of Louisville, Ky., who lives in Jupiter, had a chance to win here a year ago.
Playing the final round a group ahead of eventual champion Adam Scott, Thomas was 3 under par for the day and three shots behind Scott coming to the challenging par-3 17th hole.
Thinking of what he needed to do to on the last two holes to win, his charge was halted by a double bogey. Thomas ended up shooting a 1-under-par 69 to tie for third at 5-under 275, four shots behind Scott.
“Going into 17, I’m like, ‘If I can just play these last two holes 2 under, whether it’s a par and eagle or birdie and a birdie, if I can just post.’ Because even though 18 is a par 5, if you have something posted, things can happen and obviously 17 is 17,” Thomas said.
“Then I just made a 5 and just eliminated all those discussions.”
Thinking too far ahead hasn’t been a problem for Thomas this season. And he’s learned that he needs to stay focused to continue his solid play.
“I won so early that in three months, if I don’t play well, no one is going to remember those three wins,” Thomas said. “And that’s just how this game goes. It’s who is hot at that time and who is playing well, and that’s why I just need to continue to work hard and keep giving myself opportunities to win tournaments.”
Heavy rainstorms forced the cancellation of Wednesday afternoon’s Pro Am and PGA National director of agronomy Brad Nelson said he and his grounds crew will have a late night to get the course ready for play today.
“We’ll probably work until 1 or 2 a.m.,” Nelson said. “We usually start working at 3:45 a.m.
“It’ll be a completely different golf course. The firmness of the greens [before the rain] matched what we had last year on Saturday and Sunday. I don’t know if I can get back to where we were.”
Nelson said repairing washed out bunkers will take the most time. His staff will have to remove debris and water, then rebuild the bunkers.
One good thing: The lake levels at PGA National are “the lowest they’ve ever been in February,” so Nelson said excess water on the course will be able to be moved quickly into the lakes.
Driving in the fairway will be critical for the players.
“The rough will be tough,” Nelson said, “because it’s going to be sticky and heavy.”