Rested Thomas title hungry
PGA Championship winner sets sights on FedExCup title
WESTBURY, N.Y. Justin OLD Thomas needs a good night’s sleep.
Since the PGA Championship two weeks ago at Quail Hollow, Thomas has had little time — and energy — to celebrate his first major championship.
After he left Charlotte following his two-shot victory in the last major of the season, Thomas, 24, attended to four days of media obligations and other commitments.
He has been playing catch-up ever since and said his energy level still wasn’t at 100% entering Thursday’s start of the Northern Trust, the first of four events in the FedExCup Playoffs, at Glen Oaks Club.
“It never set in,” Thomas said of his victory. “I was shocked by that. I don’t know if it was because I had so many obligations or just things to kind of do. I never really wanted to celebrate or enjoy it. I just was so tired, and I wasn’t in a mood to really do anything.
“It was weird. There were a couple times where I kind of realized what had happened a little bit, but not as much as I would have thought.”
He tried to practice last Thursday but lasted 15 minutes, his tank empty, his interest non-existent and the temperatures soaring.
But after a trip to the Hamptons and rounds of golf at Shinne- cock Hills Golf Course on Long Island (home to the 2018 U.S. Open) and Liberty National Golf Club in New Jersey (home to next month’s Presidents Cup), Thomas’ tank is nearly full.
“I’ve been trying to get my body feeling well as much as anything, and I’m getting there,” he said. “I’m not totally back to where I’d like to be, but you know, I think just another couple nights’ sleep, a couple nights’ rest. I’ve been going to bed early these last four, five days and just trying to get ready.
“It definitely was tough, just the way everything kind of happened the next three or four days after the PGA. I tried to forget about it as quick as possible just because of that reason. It was like, ‘ Look, it’s awesome. I’m extremely happy I did it. I’m proud of myself and proud of me and my team.’ It’s over with, and, you know, I’ll enjoy it in the offseason when I can enjoy it and don’t have to worry about the next tournament.”
So his mind is focused on one thing — the FedExCup. By way of his four wins this season, Thomas is No. 2 in the standings.
He’s also in a battle for player of the year honors. With four wins, including a major; a round of 59 in the Sony Open and a 63 in the U.S. Open (the lowest score ever shot in a major in relation to par), he’s the leader.
“It’s the No. 1 priority now since the majors are done,” Thomas said of the FedExCup. “If you ask someone, would you rather win a major or a FedExCup, they are both life-changers. They are both unbelievable accomplishments. They are both something that a lot of people won’t do in their career, a lot of great players won’t do.
“It’s something that now that I’ve done one, I hope to do the other at least once in my career, and I guess you could say I focus on that more now. But at the end of the day, I want to win this tournament this week just as much as I wanted to win the PGA or just as much as I want to win the FedExCup.
“It’s definitely a huge stretch of golf, but, you know, I’m just glad to have the opportunity and looking forward to it.”