Waste Management Phoenix Open: Power Rankings

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SCOTTSDALE, AZ – FEBRUARY 04: Justin Thomas works the crowd up on the 16th hole during the first round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open at TPC Scottsdale on February 4, 2016 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /

Justin Thomas was able to thrill the fine patrons at the 16th hole last year, but his accountant didn’t come away as excited.

JT missed the cut at the Waste Management Phoenix Open for the second year in a row. It’s not a great stat, but when you consider he missed by one last year and two in 2016, it becomes a little less worrisome. Toss in a T17 in 2015 and there’s no reason to think a crusher of the ball like Thomas can’t compete here.

He had a chance to contend for his first career win in ‘15, but a Sunday 72 dropped Thomas down the leaderboard.

JT comes in off of two weeks following both legs of the Hawaii swing where he tied for 22nd at the Sentry Tournament of Champions and for 14th at the Sony Open. He was in the 60s all four rounds at the Sony and only finished five off the pace on a bunched leaderboard.

“…I like the golf course,” Thomas said before last year’s event. “It’s in perfect shape right now. It’s pristine. The fairways are firm and fast. The greens are firm.”

Firm and fast is fine by Thomas who prevailed at such a track, Quail Hollow, for his 2017 PGA Championship win.

The aggressive Thomas can go low as well as anyone in the field as evidenced by his 4.48 birdies per round last season that ranked second on the PGA Tour.

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