2021 Sentry Tournament of Champions: Top 10 power rankings at Kapalua
Justin Thomas joins Dustin Johnson as the lone multiple-time Tournament of Champions winners in the field. Both have a pair of trophies from Kapalua with JT’s coming in 2017 (67-67-67-69) and 2020 (67-73-69-69). Based on his career trajectory, the 27-year-old ought to have plenty more chances to add to the list.
He’s one of golf’s brightest stars with 13 PGA Tour titles already to his name, including the 2017 PGA Championship.
Thomas noted last year Kapalua’s new greens played firmer than he remembered in the past. That will be something to watch if it maintains this year during a dry, windy week.
“I think it’s only going to get better each year. I mean, I think they’re going to — next year won’t be — the greens won’t be as firm, and I think it’ll — in probably about three or four years it’ll be back to where it just is dependent on the weather on if the greens are firm or soft,” Thomas was transcribed by ASAP Sports before the 2020 tournament.
The former Alabama Crimson Tide won the Tournament of Champions by three in 2017 and edged Patrick Reed and Xander Schauffele in a playoff last year. Thomas limped in with two bogeys in his last three holes before righting the ship.
Last year, Thomas was top 13 in all strokes gained categories. In typical fashion, he was near the top in SG tee to green (2.51). Thomas never made worse than bogey all week.
He also contended in 2019 when he finished solo third (67-72-70-65) and five back of Schauffele.
Thomas ended 2020 in pretty solid form. He’ll rue not coming away with a win since he prevailed in July at the WGC-St. Jude Invitational, but Thomas closed with a streak of six consecutive top-12s. That includes T-8th at the U.S. Open and solo fourth at the Masters. His last time on the course was when he and father, Mike, won the exhibition PNC Father/Son Challenge a few weeks ago.
Thomas last teed it up officially on the PGA Tour a month ago at the Mayakoba Golf Classic.
The driver got a little squirrely for JT down the stretch last year, but he still managed to play well enough to win. There’s room to spread out at Kapalua and recover with a good iron game. Thomas was first on Tour last season in SG approach (.997) and will be able to navigate to the right shelves on the second-year greens.