Justin Thomas basically strangled the contenders at the WGC-Bridgestone on Sunday, albeit slowly.
Thomas bid farewell to old Firestone by playing the tough golf course with proper respect and a healthy lead.
What he did in route to his ninth PGA Tour victory and his first WGC triumph was sorta like one of those old school wrestling matches.
He put the sleeper hold on anyone who challenged him and slowly, but surely, they withered away until their ability to challenge took a nap.
Jason Day said on Saturday that the final 18 would depend on how Thomas played. Bad news for J-Day and the rest is that Thomas played virtually mistake-free — two birdies, a lone bogey and 15 solid pars. Added up to 15-under and a walkaway four-shot win, pretty much the way Tiger Woods would win here in his hey-day.
Those closest to him tired to chase but failed. Day got the closest when he pulled within two shots through 12 holes. Alas, Day played the last six holes in an embarrassing five-over par and closed with 73 and fell all the way into a tie for 10th.
Thomas’ playing partner Rory McIlroy put on one helluva long-driving clinic. He regularly hit bombs off the tee in the 350 to 390 range and hit at least two past the 400-yard mark, including one that went 415 at the par five 16th where he hit seven-iron left of the green in two. Those mind-boggling tee shots netted McIlroy an unimpressive 73 and dropped him into a tie for sixth at eight-under.
Ian Poulter started missing short putts like there was no tomorrow and he shot 74 and fell back into that group with J-Day.
While the contenders failed to contend, there were a couple of big movers. Dustin Johnson and Thorbjorn Olesen shot 64s, got to 10-under but no one really cared since they started the day seven back of Thomas.
While Rory was blasting away and J-Day was stumbling his way to the clubhouse and Poulter was whiffing short putts, straight-driver Kyle Stanley snuck right in there with a solo-second at 11-under thanks to his closing 68.
But this day belonged to Thomas. His drives were nearly as long as McIlroy’s — but much straighter. He played the power fade while Rory’s draw was a tree-seeker. Went back to the old declaration by Lee Trevino decades ago when Lee proclaimed: “You can talk to a fade but a hook won’t listen.”
Too many of Rory’s bombs didn’t listen.
“I’m glad I finally played well here,” Thomas declared before he got ready to pick up the final Firestone trophy. “I got choked up a little when I saw my grandpa and grandma over there (right of the 18th). It was the first time I’ve won with them here.”
Thomas got hugs from mom, dad, grandpa and grandma. Special stuff, his father and grandfather are both PGA of America professionals.
Thomas beat the field the way that guy named Woods used to. He got ahead of everyone, took a nice lead into the final round then watched everyone else screw up while he ground out a steady, nice round.
As for Woods? Well, he found out how good these guys are in these elite field WGC events these days. All he could manage was another 73 on Sunday, two straight over the weekend, even par and tied for 31st.
But this one was never about Woods.
It was about the sad goodbye to Firestone, a place that has stood the test of time and tested the best.
And Thomas was the best on this farewell week.
