The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thomas drives the green, makes eagle, extends lead
Long hitter misses other chances but is ahead by 2 shots.
KAPALUA, HAWAII — With one powerful swing, Justin Thomas drove the 14th green and made eagle to take control Saturday in the Tournament of Champions.
Thomas holed the 20-foot eagle putt and closed with a two-putt birdie from just short of the green on the par-5 18th for a third straight round of 6-under 67, giving him a two-shot lead over Hideki Matsuyama with one round to go. Thomas had shared the second-round lead with Ryan Moore.
Matsuyama, who had eight birdies in his 66, has won four of his past five tournaments worldwide dating to Oct. 16 at the Japan Open. The only player to beat him during that stretch was Thomas at the CIMB Classic at Malaysia.
This time, they will be in the final group today at Kapalua.
Thomas was at 18-under 201, and while he was pleased with his score and the lead, he had a chance to build even more separation. Following his eagle, he smashed another drive that caught the slope on the par-5 15th and rolled to the bottom of the hill, a 348-yard drive that left him only 180 yards to the elevated green.
But his shot was a clunker coming out of the short rough. He then hit a tough pitch to 6 feet, but read a fraction too much break in the putt and settled for par.
On the short 16th, he pounded another drive within 60 yards of the pin, but his wedge came up well short and he missed from 15 feet.
“I’m definitely not disappointed with today, but I left a lot out there,” Thomas said.
He did enough to shorten the number of challengers in the winners-only field. Only five players are within five shots of the lead going into the final round.
Matsuyama made three birdies over his last five holes to get into the final group as he goes for his fourth straight victory.
“Justin doesn’t have any weaknesses at all in his game,” Matsuyama said. “He hits it long, has a marvelous short game, putts well, hits the ball well. We’ve got to go low tomorrow to be able to catch him.”
Memorial winner William McGirt, one of 11 playing the Plantation course at Kapalua for the first time, played bogey-free for a 66 and was four shots behind, along with Moore (71) and Jimmy Walker (70).
Moore was tied for the lead until Thomas eagled the 14th and Moore missed a 15-foot birdie putt. On the next hole, Moore’s tee shot plugged into the steep face of a bunker and he had no choice but to pitch out sideways, leading to another bogey.
Brendan Steele had a 67 and was at 13-under 206.
Dustin Johnson had a 69 and was in a group seven shots back. Jason Day, playing for the first time since the Tour Championship, was eight back after a 70.
Jordan Spieth had a double bogey on his second hole and shot 70. He was 10 shots back.
Marcus Foligno, Zemgus Girgensons and Brian Gionta scored in a 4:42 span early in the third period, rallying Buffalo to victory. Jets forward Patrik Laine, the NHL’s rookie scoring leader, left the game after taking an open-ice hit from Jake McCabe 13 seconds after the Sabres had tied it at 5:38. His head appeared to hit the ice. Coach Paul Maurice had no update on Laine’s condition afterward.
Travis Konecny, Michael Raffl, Sean Couturier and Radko Gudas scored in the second period as Philadelphia ended a five-game losing streak. Michal Neuvirth made 24 saves in his first game since Nov. 12 after missing 24 because of a left knee injury.
Tanner Pearson tipped home Alec Martinez’s pass for his 11th goal at 3:32 of overtime, after Minnesota’s Zach Parise scored the tying goal on a power play with 42.1 seconds left in regulation.
T.J. Oshie scored 1:38 into the game and Braden Holtby made 30 saves for his second straight shutout and fifth of the season.
Mark Letestu scored on a power play 3:59 into overtime.
Brad Marchand scored two goals and Tuukka Rask had 25 saves for his fifth shutout as Boston improved to 4-0 against Florida this season.
Adam Clendening scored his first two goals of the season and Michael Grabner also scored twice as New York rallied from 4-1 down. Columbus got its second straight loss after a 16-game winning streak.
Max Pacioretty scored his fourth goal in the past three games and Carey Price made 33 saves for Montreal. Late Late Late Late