Pro Golf Now
Fansided

PGA Tour: Justin Thomas blows late lead at Workday Charity Open

By Tim Letcher

DUBLIN, OHIO - JULY 12: Justin Thomas of the United States reacts to a missed putt on the 18th green during the second playoff hole during the final round of the Workday Charity Open on July 12, 2020 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DUBLIN, OHIO - JULY 12: Justin Thomas of the United States reacts to a missed putt on the 18th green during the second playoff hole during the final round of the Workday Charity Open on July 12, 2020 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Leading by three shots with three holes left, Justin Thomas seemed to have his 13th PGA Tour win locked up. But he lost at the Workday Charity Open

Justin Thomas is one of the best young players not only on the PGA Tour, but in the world. That’s why seeing him lose the way he did on Sunday at the Workday Charity Open is even more baffling.

Thomas had and up and down day all day on Sunday at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Leading by two shots as the day began, Thomas struggled on the front nine and lost the lead very quickly.

More from Pro Golf Now

His round started with a par on the first hole before bogeys on the second and third holes. In the process of three holes, his two-shot lead was gone.

Thomas did appear to right the ship from there. After pars at numbers four, five, six and seven, he stuck his tee shot on the par-3 eighth, leaving just two feet for birdie, which he made to get back to 1-over par on his round. Thomas would finish the front nine with a birdie to shoot an even-par 36 on the front side.

As he started the back nine, it was clear that Thomas’ game was clicking. He birdied the 10th and 11th holes to get to 2-under on his Sunday round and to take back the lead.

He would par the 12th and 13th holes before seemingly putting the tournament away. He birdied the 14th hole, then made a 23-foot eagle putt on the 15th hole. Thomas grabbed a three-shot lead in the process and the tournament was all but over.

However, in what was definitely a rare occasion, Thomas was unable to close the deal

He bogeyed the 16th hole before a steady par on the 17th hole. However, needing just a par to win on the 18th hole, Thomas missed an 11-foot putt for par and would go into a playoff against Collin Morikawa.

In that playoff, Thomas appeared to be at a distinct disadvantage on the first playoff hole. After his drive went right, he hit his approach shot to 50 feet left and long of the hole. Morikawa hit his approach to about 20 feet, clearly in the advantageous position.

However, Thomas came up huge, rolling in his lengthy putt and putting the pressure back on Morikawa. But the youngster was up to the task, holing his birdie putt as well to send the playoff to a second hole.

Both players would par the second extra hole, but on the third playoff hole, playing number 10, Thomas hit his drive to the right and directly behind a tree. Meanwhile, Morikawa was in the middle of the fairway with his tee shot.

Next. US Open : Fox Losing Broadcast is a Big Loss for Golf Fans. dark

Morikawa hit his approach to about 10 feet while Thomas was forced to pitch out into the fairway. Thomas’ third shot was not as close as Morikawa’s second. And when Thomas missed his par putt, Morikawa needed just two putts to win, which he did.

It’s rare to see one of the world’s best players fall apart down the stretch. As Thomas said after the round, there’s no excuse for losing when you have a three-shot lead with three holes to play. But that’s what he did on Sunday.

Home/Golf News