Thomas crosses off List to win Honda Classic
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — The words exploded from Justin Thomas’ mouth as soon as his birdie putt on the first playoff hole disappeared into the cup to give him his Honda Classic victory Sunday at PGA National. “[Bleep] yeah, baby,’’ Thomas screamed. It was an unconscious release of stress from an edgy final-round afternoon of golf with a log-jammed leaderboard and difficult conditions. So when it was over, when Thomas had vanquished 54-hole leader Luke List to deny him of his first career PGA Tour victory, he let loose. Later, Thomas apologized for his profanity. “Yeah, that’s not something I wanted to get on TV,’’ Thomas said. “It just was an emotional win and I was happy to get it done. What I said, it obviously wasn’t out of frustration or anything. I did not know that was on TV, so I apologize to anybody that heard it. “I was just excited because I was nervous and I felt like just that back nine, so many things happened and Luke was playing so well.’’ Thomas, who shot a finalround 68, and List, who shot 69, stepped to the par-5 18th tee tied for the lead at 7-under. List hit his drive into the fairway and Thomas’ tee shot came to rest in the right rough. List reached the green in two, and Thomas was forced to lay up to 117 yards and then hit a wedge to 3 feet. Both birdied 18 in regulation and went back to 18 for the sudden-death playoff. This time, Thomas’ drive found the fairway and reached the green in two and List hit into the right rough behind a tree, forced to lay up. Thomas twoputted for birdie after List parred and it was over. The victory was the eighth of Thomas’ career and seventh in his past 31 starts, which is almost Tiger Woods-like in terms of winning percentage. Only three players in the past 30 years have won eight or more tournaments before the age of 25 as Thomas has done, and the company is heavy: Woods and Jordan Spieth. Speaking of Spieth, Thomas’ good friend, Thomas overtook him in the world rankings with the win, elevating to No. 2 in the world. It’s the first time Thomas has been ranked ahead of Spieth, who is a former No. 1 in the world. Asked if that meant anything to him since he’s so often compared to Spieth, Thomas delivered the perfect answer.
“Not really, because there’s still two more spots that I want to climb,’’ he said.
It’s been quite a two-year run for Thomas, who won five times last season, including capturing his first major, the PGA Championship, and was named PGA Tour Player of the Year. He’s already won twice this season with this win.
Thomas got a massive break on the par-3 fifth hole, where his tee shot hit the rocks in front of the green, bounced some 25 feet in the air and came to rest about 12 feet from the hole. Thomas would par the hole that could have been a double bogey had the ball ricocheted into the water.
“I didn’t even know it hit the rocks,’’ Thomas said. “We figured it probably didn’t land on the green and we kind of heard a click. Jimmy [Johnson, his caddie] was like, ‘What happened?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know, but I have like 12 feet, so give me my putter.’ Got lucky.’’
When you’re good, you’re often lucky, too.
List did a strong job rebounding from a shaky start, losing the lead with bogeys on Nos. 3 and 4. He shot 37 on the front nine, but came back with an impressive 32 on the back nine to get into the playoff.
“Obviously, it hurts right now, but I think that when I look back on it, I’ll be proud of the way I hung in there and especially on the back nine and after that slow start on the front,’’ List said. “I’d like to have that tee shot back in the playoff, but that’s the way it goes sometimes. Overall, I hung in there really tough and you’ve got to give it to Justin. He played nice.’’