Justin Thomas quiets Ryder Cup haters, near top of Fortinet Championship

Justin Thomas seemed like a very completely different golfer on Friday on the Fortinet Championship. After a first-round filled with blunders and struggling to seek out the fairways, Thomas turned it round to card a 5-under 67 to take a seat on the primary web page of the leaderboard.

He extremely hit 17-of-18 greens in regulation, was No. 2 in strokes gained off the tee and No. 5 in strokes gained method. The 2-time PGA Championship winner additionally led the sphere in driving distance at 340 yards.

These numbers are a lot improved from Thursday the place he hit simply 3-of-14 fairways and was No. 71 in driving distance at 301.5 yards.

“I used to be getting caught beneath it,” Thomas stated. “I may really feel it some on the market, and I really feel just like the adjustment I made on the fly yesterday to no less than get it in the home, and so I had a very good thought from just a little 10-minute vary session yesterday afternoon that I felt like may get me by way of in the present day, and it labored fairly effectively.”

Thursday’s spherical made some surprise if Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson made the correct alternative in choosing Thomas. Nonetheless, these doubters have doubtless been silenced in the intervening time. He made six birdies on the day, together with his closing two holes, the par-4 eighth and ninth.

“I performed actually strong, I drove the ball effectively, felt like I gave myself loads of probabilities, felt like loads of like 12-to 20-footers,” Thomas stated. “It was good to make these putts on the final two holes… Once more, that’s why I keep affected person, type of keep in it… birdied these final two to salvage a very good spherical.”

His potential to regulate on the fly is one thing Thomas does typically. It’s one factor that has made him who he’s as knowledgeable golfer.

But, this season has been a wrestle for Thomas.

However he didn’t let his struggles, or the controversial choice to the Ryder Cup deter him from pushing ahead.

One in all his adjustments was implementing a brand new driver, which helped Thomas tremendously. He has used all of it week, but it surely lastly began to work for him after making that adjustment.

“If I drive it like I did in the present day, I’ll use it for the remainder of my profession,” Thomas stated Friday.

It appears Thomas has discovered some much-needed confidence on the course. He lastly seems to be having fun with himself once more, and that might be occurring on the proper time, with the Ryder Cup simply two weeks away.

Savannah Leigh Richardson is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. You possibly can observe her on Twitter @SportsGirlSL and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports for extra golf protection. Make sure to take a look at @_PlayingThrough too.