Thomas sets record low for 72 holes
HONOLULU: Justin Thomas overcame a slow start for a second straight day before five birdies in seven holes helped him wrap up a wiretowire victory in record style at the Sony Open in Honolulu yesterday.
The longhitting American clinched his fourth PGA Tour title, his second in a row and his third of the young season, by seven strokes after firing a 5under 65 at Waialae Country Club for a stunning 27under total of 253.
Thomas, who had opened with a magical 11under 59 to take control of the tournament, signed off with a comfortable twoputt birdie at the par5 last to add yet another slice of golf history to his dominant week of multiple records.
His aggregate for 72 holes eclipsed the previous PGA Tour low of 254, set by Tommy Armour III at the 2003 Texas Open.
‘‘That’s awesome,’’ Thomas (23) told Golf Channel after becoming the first player since Ernie Els in 2003 to win backtoback titles in Hawaii during the same season.
‘‘I remember someone saying in a press conference that I needed 10under on the weekend [for the PGA Tour low] so I told [caddie] Jimmy [Johnson] with two holes left we need to get one of these last two.
‘‘It’s been an unbelievable week, unforgettable.’’
England’s Olympic champion Justin Rose birdied three of the last four holes for a 64 to finish second at 20under, one stroke ahead of double major winner Jordan Spieth, who fired his best round of the week with a 63.
‘‘I honestly felt like I was trying to win the tournament for second place,’’ Spieth said while paying tribute to the sizzling form of good friend Thomas.
‘‘JT, it’s pretty unbelievable what he’s doing right now.’’
Seven strokes in front after the third round, Thomas took a while to find his rhythm yesterday.
He threeputted from long range to bogey the parthree fourth, did well to sink a 2.4m putt for par at the sixth and briefly had his lead cut to just four before he clicked back into gear.
‘‘I was really nervous this morning. I just had a hard time getting into a comfortable mind frame,’’ Thomas, who is projected to rise to a careerhigh eighth in the world rankings today, said.
‘‘I was doing what I needed to do. I was making some pars, besides that bad bogey on four, but that par putt I made on six was huge.
‘‘I think if I missed that I start maybe worrying a little bit but I knew the last 10hole stretch I was very comfortable with so I just tried to stay patient.’’
Thomas drained a 6.7m putt at the par4 eighth, the first of five birdies over the next seven holes as he shut the door on his closest challengers.