Justin Thomas swept through the islands like a golfing typhoon last week and set a bunch of PGA Tour records in the process.
Victory Sunday in the Sony Open gave him the “Aloha Sweep” with titles at the Tournament of Champions two weeks ago for good measure.
The 23-year-old star birdied the 72nd hole at Waialae to set a new PGA Tour record for low 72-hole score. His 253 erased the old mark of 254 set by Tommy Armour III at the 2003 Valero Texas Open. In the process, Thomas’ performance was simply stunning starting with the opening 59 last Thursday that was followed by a round of 64 then a pair of 65s to close the weekend. He set the new 36-hole record (123), the new 54-hole record (188) then finally the four-day mark.
Thomas was 27-under par, all told, and seven whopping shots better than Olympic Gold Medalist Justin Rose. Thomas’ good friend, Jordan Spieth, closed with a 63 and got to 19-under for solo third. “It felt like I was playing a different tournament,” said Spieth. “Pretty unbelievable what he’s (Thomas) done.”
“I was really nervous this morning,” Thomas admitted after his stunning victory. “It was tough, a lot of things go through your mind with a seven shot lead.”
Thomas got off to a slow start with three straight pars then a surprising bogey at the fourth that put him over par for a round for the first in the tournament, perhaps giving some hope to his challengers. He missed the green at the par four sixth and left himself a long bunker shot. He hit it just inside eight feet and it looked like another bogey could be looming but he hit the putt dead-center for par. “The par I made at six was huge,” he would later say. Birdies at eight and nine got him rolling and he slammed the door on the deal with four more back nine birdies, including the record-setter at 18.
“It’s been an unforgettable week,” is how Thomas summed up his Hawaiian birdie onslaught.
And most will tell you that’s probably an understatement.
