Justin Thomas ‘drove it terribly’ at Fortinet Championship yet is pleased

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After a month-long hiatus, Justin Thomas is again enjoying on the PGA Tour.

He carded a 3-under 69 to open the Fortinet Championship regardless of hitting simply 3-of-14 fairways.

“I assumed I managed my sport fairly effectively,” Thomas mentioned to Golf Channel’s Kira Okay. Dixon after the spherical.

“I drove it terribly for many of the day. I actually really feel like I salvaged spherical out of what I had. I made some very nice putts; greens bought bumpy on the finish, so it was good to cruise to the end line however nonetheless a strong begin.”

Thomas did putt effectively Thursday, one thing he might want to do in Italy for the Ryder Cup in two weeks. After all, Thomas’ choice to the staff was met with controversy due to the sub-par season that he had.

He struggled all through 2023 due to his points off the tee. The Alabama product ranked 132nd this season in driving accuracy, discovering fairways simply 56.2% of the time.

Justin Thomas, PGA Tour, Fortinet Championship

Justin Thomas throughout the opening spherical of the 2023 Fortinet Championship.
Photograph by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Photographs

On Thursday, that pattern continued, as he ranked a centesimal within the discipline in strokes gained off the tee. Solely 9 golfers within the 156-man discipline hit fewer fairways than he did.

“I had nothing,” Thomas continued.

“I used to be lacking fairways; it didn’t matter if it was Driver, 3-wood, or 5-wood. I couldn’t hit the green, however I saved tinkering till I discovered one thing, and I did. So that’s the form of stuff I get pleasure from greater than something, salvaging a spherical like immediately when it very simply may have been one or two over.”

Thomas sits in a tie for 18th—with U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson—after Thursday’s spherical, six strokes behind chief Lucas Herbert.

Defending champion Max Homa, the one different Ryder Cupper within the discipline this week, carded a 2-under 70.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By way of. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Make sure you take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.