2024 PGA Championship: Top 10 power rankings at Valhalla

Aside from the Schefflers and the McIlroys of the world, Justin Thomas will be a trendy second-tier pick to win this week.

For starters, JT is a hometown kid playing in his native Louisville this week. He attended the 2014 PGA Championship at Valhalla as a spectator. Now, he’s hoping to inspire the next Justin Thomas watching greenside.

“It was great. I hadn't played it in a long time,” Thomas was transcribed by Tee Scripts last week discussing his recent reconnaissance trip to Valhalla.

"I hadn't played it in eight to 10 years to be honest. I remembered more than I thought I would. It hasn't changed a lot, more so just some new tees and cleared some trees out to make it way more spectator friendly. I feel like you'll be able to see throughout the course more, which I thought was a great look. But yeah, it was great. I mean, I have some pretty cool memories of Valhalla and I'm excited to hopefully make some of my own but on the other side of the ropes for a change."

Thomas already has two Wanamaker Trophies to his name. Thomas won at Quail Hollow in 2017 where he erased a three-shot lead entering Sunday to win by two.

He had less than a 2% chance to win per Data Golf entering Sunday at the 2022 PGA at Southern Hills when he began seven back.

Thomas surged and Mito Pereira crumbled, allowing Thomas to become a two-time major champ. If he can be in the mix late this week, he’s got the firepower to make up ground in a hurry.

It looked like that win in Tulsa would propel the former Alabama Crimson Tide to big things. Instead, he’s still yet to win an event since.

Last year was a disappointing one, but he closed in a flurry with three straight top-fives. Although they came against weak fields, it springboarded him to finish inside the top-12 in his first three starts of 2024, which were against tougher competition.

JT hit another rough patch this spring and parted ways with famed caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay before the Masters.

Thomas missed the cut at Augusta National before rebounding at a pair of Signature Events to take T-5th at the RBC Heritage and T-21st at the Wells Fargo Championship.

The 31-year-old ranks 31st on the PGA Tour in Strokes Gained: Total (.708). Aiding the cause most are ranks of 11th in SG: Tee-to-Green (1.089) and 12th in SG: Approach (.627).

Despite his diminutive frame, Thomas can hit it plenty far to compete on any course. That goes for Valhalla. He’s 21st in driving distance (307.8 yards).