25 July 2023
Justin Thomas said all the right things during his pre-tournament press conference Tuesday, two days before the 3M Open tees off.
He said he’s “excited” to be in Minnesota. He noted it’s “always fun” coming to a new place. He played nine holes at TPC Twin Cities on Tuesday and said the course is “in unbelievable condition.” And the people? Wow, even better.
“Everybody here has been very, very welcoming, which is always great and a nice feeling,” Thomas said. “Unfortunately, with how some tournaments work in the schedule, I haven’t been able to come here in the past, but I’m glad that worked out for me to be able to come this year. Yeah, I’m excited for the week.”
But, truth be told, it’s no secret Thomas would rather be at home this week, after playing a couple of weeks of links golf across the pond. That’s what he usually does, and that was the initial plan for his schedule this season. But circumstances change plans. And Thomas’ circumstances are currently this: He is 75th in the FedExCup standings, five spots outside of the playoffs with just two weeks to play in the regular season. His Ryder Cup positioning for this fall’s event is tenuous, at best.
He is in Minnesota this week because he has to be — both to earn points and re-gain form. He is already committed to next week’s Wyndham Championship — another event he typically does not play — with the same goals in mind.
Good on him.
Thomas is one of the faces of golf. He is a two-time PGA Championship winner and the 2017 FedExCup champ. He’s one of the most talented ball strikers on the globe. Generally, he reaches the Tour Championship, reserved for the top 30 players on the PGA Tour, without any issue.
This season has been different. He has struggled. The 30-year-old hasn’t finished in the top eight of an event since early February. He missed the cut in three of the majors this season, and finished in a tie for 65th in the fourth.
Golf is a humbling game. Many of Thomas’ fellow top-tier counterparts and close friends are at home right now, soaking in a well-deserved break before the playoffs roll around. Meanwhile, he’s grinding out events in a last-ditch effort to join them at the first playoff event in two weeks in Memphis, where he’s also a past champion.
Being in Minnesota this week, and Greensboro, N.C., next week, shows the pride Thomas possesses. It would be easy to turtle into a corner after shooting an 82 in the opening round of The Open. He returned the next day and shot an even-par 71. He could deem this season a lost cause and dip out on the final two events of the regular season.
Not all of the big names currently outside the top 70 are teeing it up this week.
But Thomas is playing. He’s going for it.
“This is a good chance for me to learn a little bit about myself and push myself and become better,” Thomas said. “I mean, this game, nothing’s given to you. I’ve had great chances to win the FedExCup the last five or six years and now I’m trying to make the playoffs. That’s just the way this sport is. And it can happen to anybody, so you’ve just got to go out and get it, and that’s what I’m going to do these last two weeks.”
He’s confident in his abilities to do so. Confidence is something Thomas hasn’t lost amid the struggles. He has been asked multiple times if he has sought out advice from friends such as Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth and Tiger Woods, who’ve also endured rough patches in their careers and come out the other side.
But Thomas noted his struggles haven’t been too grave. He’s still ranked No. 20 in the world. He won the PGA Championship just 14 months ago. He logged a top 10 in the Travelers Championship last month after shooting 62 in the third round.
“I feel fine. I mean, I’m still doing a lot of things well,” Thomas said. “I’m also very fortunate, you know, that this run of golf for six months, whatever it is, you know, I feel like the reason it’s being viewed as it is is because of the player that I am, and I take a lot of pride in that. But I also know that at the same time I’m the kind of player that I can get out of it just fine. I have a lot of faith and belief in myself to know that this is just a challenge and an opportunity for me to grow and get better and really come out of this even better than I have been in the past.”
Perhaps that re-ascension will come this week. Thomas noted he’s “very, very close.” And breakthroughs, he added, take place on the course. In tournaments. Not at home on the couch.
“Personally, feel like I just kind of need to play my way through it a little bit,” he said. “This is an unbelievable opportunity for me, kind of behind the eight-ball, and my end goal is to make the Tour Championship like it is every year. It’s not like I’m just playing to try to get into the first playoffs event. I want to be in Atlanta, and I’m going to have to get there somehow.”
Apparently, by way of Minnesota.
“Hopefully,” Thomas said, “this is the week that it all clicks and comes together.”
Related Articles
3M Open: Alex Gaugert usually caddies for his former Gophers teammate. This week, they’re playing partners
3M Open: North Oaks’ Frankie Capan III set to tee it up as a pro on the PGA Tour, with his mom on his bag
3M Open: Blaine’s Caleb VanArragon receives final sponsor exemption
Jace Frederick: Every PGA Tour tournament should get a crack at being an elevated event, including the 3M Open
3M Open: With new party deck and ‘Waterball Wall,’ golf fans may actually applaud some bad shots