“Is it the winning putt? Here it comes! YES IT IS! JUSTIN THOMAS! BACK IN THE WINNER’S CIRCLE!” Jim Nantz’s voice soared across the broadcast as the 21-foot putt dropped. The tears began flowing immediately. Justin Thomas had just secured his first win as a father after nearly 3 years of waiting. The putt was perfect—“as pure as it gets,” as the commentators noted. All Andrew Novak could do was remove his hat in a gesture of respect. Thomas had finally claimed his 16th PGA Tour victory in dramatic playoff fashion at Harbour Town.
“Winning is hard, it’s really, really hard,” Thomas admitted after securing the victory. His path back to the winner’s circle wasn’t easy. Thomas played bogey-free in the final round. He delivered a composed 3-under 68 in challenging conditions. The win earned him a substantial $3.6 million payday at the $20 million PGA Tour Signature Event.
However, Thomas isn’t resting on his laurels after his emotional victory. Despite skipping the Zurich Classic of New Orleans this week, his calendar remains full. His next expected appearance is at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson in May. Taylor Pendrith enters as the defending champion. Thomas has reason for optimism there. He’s made ten cuts in ten starts this 2025 season. His resurgent form has already yielded five top-10 finishes and two runner-up results in 2025.
The PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club looms as Thomas’s most promising opportunity. This venue holds special significance for him. It’s where he captured his first major championship in 2017. His statistics suggest he could be primed for another victory. The summer will see Thomas competing in both remaining majors of 2025. He’ll tackle the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club in June. Bryson DeChambeau will defend his title. Then he’ll head to Royal Portrush Golf Club for The Open Championship in July. Xander Schauffele returns as defending champion there as well. Thomas’s balanced game improvements give him realistic championship chances at each stop.
“I didn’t realize how much I craved winning,” Thomas admitted after his RBC Heritage triumph. “Winning is challenging. It’s really, really difficult.” With his 11th-place standing in the FedExCup points race, Thomas is expected to maintain a busy schedule through the playoffs. His recent performance suggests the RBC Heritage victory might be just the beginning of a career renaissance.
Golf personalities rallied around Thomas after his breakthrough win. Brooks Koepka‘s wife, Jena Sims, posted a celebratory story with Thomas wearing the plaid jacket. She captioned it, “Pumped for y’all!! @jillian_thomas3.” Michelle Wie West shared her excitement with a heartfelt message: “Love this sooo much @justinthomas34 @jillian_thomas3 Congrats you guys!!!!!.” Even equipment maker Titleist joined in, noting: “Started the week with the course record. Ended it with a clutch playoff win.” The entire golf community recognized Thomas’s perseverance during his challenging period.
Now that we understand Thomas’s path forward, let’s examine what led to this triumphant comeback.
The numbers behind Justin Thomas’s slump and revival
Looking beyond his upcoming schedule, Thomas’s statistics reveal both his struggles and his remarkable turnaround. The 2023 season marked the lowest point of his career slump. His world ranking plummeted from 8th to 16th. He missed the FedExCup Playoffs for the first time in his career. Thomas was also left off the U.S. Presidents Cup team, a significant blow to his standing.
His putting woes were at the heart of his struggles. Thomas finished outside the top 130 in strokes gained putting for two consecutive years. His current putting statistics show remarkable improvement. He ranks 40th on tour with a 0.336 Strokes Gained: Putting mark this season. Thomas also ranks 10th with a 27.83 Putts Per Round average.
The turnaround began when Thomas sought advice from fellow PGA Tour player Xander Schauffele. “I called Xander at the end of last year because I think he’s one of the best putters in fundamentals,” Thomas explained. This mentorship proved invaluable. His approach game remains elite, ranking 8th on Tour in Strokes Gained: Approach the Green with a 0.837 average.
His performance at Harbour Town showcased a complete game revival. Thomas carded rounds of 61-69-69-68 for a tournament total of 17-under par. He secured the victory with a clutch birdie putt from just outside 20 feet in the playoff. Will this victory launch Thomas into another prolific winning streak? The golf world eagerly awaits his performance in the upcoming majors.
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