The TOUR Championship: Power Ranking the top ten at East Lake
One year ago today, Justin Thomas was ranked 33rd in the Official World Golf Ranking. He spent most of the 2016 season lingering in the mid-30s, getting as high as 27th following a third-place tie at The PLAYERS Championship.
What a difference a year makes. With five victories in 2017, Thomas has skyrocketed up the ranks, and currently finds himself as the No. 4 player in the world. It’s an honor that the 24-year-old has rightfully earned, and he’s also earned the expectations that come along with it.
Thomas made his first trip to East Lake in 2016, as well. Finishing tied for sixth, that week in Atlanta may well have been the key to this year’s success.
Thomas has grown in nearly every aspect of his game in 2017. Although he matched 2016’s missed cuts mark with six, he also turned in four more top-ten finishes in four fewer starts. While his power off the tee makes headlines, it’s his putting that has led Thomas to the heights he’s reached, and he’s gone from 131st on Tour in strokes gained: putting all the way to 49th.
No, Thomas isn’t perfect, but with five wins, he’s been pretty close to it. His T47 showing at the BMW Championship isn’t the best way to go into the FedEx Cup finale, but I’m expecting that to be more of a blip on the radar than anything else. Thomas has come too far to miss out this week.