Players Championship: Justin Thomas Vaults Into Contention Saturday

Justin Thomas had not done anything special in the first two rounds of this week’s Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Thomas had not been bad, he just hadn’t done anything that would allow him to be near the top of the leader board.

That changed on Saturday when Thomas fired the round of the day and moved himself into a fine spot heading into Sunday’s final round.

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Thomas got things going early, wasting no time in his ascent up the standings. On the first hole, Thomas drove it in the fairway and hit his second shot about 20 feet from the cup. He rolled in the put for birdie to get into red figures.

On the par-5 second hole, Thomas drove it in the rough and hit his second shot into a greenside bunker. But he hit a very nice bunker shot to about six feet and made the putt for another birdie. He was 2-under through two holes.

Thomas kept things rolling on the par-3 third hole. His tee shot got him within 16 feet and he made another birdie putt, making it three in a row.

On the par-4 fourth hole, Thomas drove it in the fairway again. His second shot was outstanding, leaving him just under five feet for birdie. He made another putt to get to 4-under through four holes.

Thomas did slip up at the fifth hole. He drove it in the fairway but his second shot missed the green. His third got him onto the green but his long par putt missed and he settled for bogey. He was 3-under through five.

He would par the sixth before another birdie, this one on the seventh hole, got him back to 4-under. That’s where he finished his front nine, with a 4-under par 32.

On the back nine, Thomas got things going early again.

Playing the 10th hole, Thomas drove it in the right intermediate rough but his second shot, from about 140 yards, nearly went in. He would tap in for a birdie to get to 5-under par.

On the par-5 11th hole, Thomas drove it in the fairway and hit the green with his second shot. His eagle putt just missed and he tapped in for a birdie to get to 6-under par.

Thomas would par the next four holes, leading up to the par-5 16th. And that’s when he made his biggest noise of the day.

He drove it in the fairway and, from just over 200 yards, nearly holed his second shot. He had a tap-in for eagle to get to 8-under par. Pars on the 17th and 18th hole would leave him with an 8-under par 64 on the day.

After starting the day in a tie for 22nd, Thomas is now in the mix to win his first Players Championship title.