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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

“So I’m very very proud of myself,” Justin Thomas said at a press conference after bagging second place at the 2023 Valspar Championship. Then, in January this year, he anticipated “a year like Scottie,” aiming for seven or more wins. The 31-year-old has 15 professional wins, but his last came two years ago. Observing his form lately, the golf world is worried.

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In the ongoing schedule, he has been close to victory, with two runner-up finishes and two top-10 finishes. But, the struggle to clinch the title continues. Now that his performance is following this pattern, critics have shared a warning about his performance and struggles for the Masters 2025.

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Recently at the No Laying Up Podcast, Neil Schuster, Kevin Van Valkenburg, and Randy on the panel discussed how there hasn’t been any alpha golfer this season who would dominate the Masters. Then, the panel brought up J.T. and his collapse in the last round and said, “J.T.’s got to be good enough to not throw a couple of Bogies, like, he just got to be a little bit better.” Thomas lost to Viktor Hovland with just a stroke difference. Addressing his flaws, the panel shared the misses on the 16th and 18th holes. Bogey alert! For the final rounds, Thomas recorded 7 birdies, but the bogeys drowned away the 3-year due victory.

Further in the discussion, the worry about his Masters performance was brought up. K.V.V.  In the back 9 putt of round four at Valspar, J.T. dropped down from being in the lead with under seven, to his final score of -5,  making him the runner-up.

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Even in 2024, Masters were tough for the golfer. He opened with an even-par 72 but stumbled in Round 2, playing the final four holes at seven-over, including double-bogeys on 15 and 16. A closing 79 left him at +7, just one stroke outside the cut. Despite these concerns, the golfer is optimistic about his performance at the Augusta Nationals.

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Justin Thomas shared hopes after his performance at Valspar

Another pattern that’s visible now is Justin’s unhinged optimism. While the community is expressing their concerns for J.T., for 2025, the golfer feels like he is getting into the good zone. After his performance at the Valspar Championship, he shared the disappointment but also continued with an optimistic approach for the upcoming Masters. GOLF.COM shared a glimpse of his interview on Instagram, where he said, “It sucks not winning when you’re that close and have a great chance.” Thomas with his performance has recorded 18 birdies and one eagle at the event.

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Squeezing some positivity, he said, “But, I just hopefully put myself in the same position at Augusta and finish it off better.” Maybe he sees performance decline for what it can be – temporary. Well, it will be interesting to see how the golfer will take on the challenge. What are your predictions for his performance? Will he be able to end his 3 year wind drought? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

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Tanmay Sharma

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Tanmay Sharma is a Golf Journalist at EssentiallySports, where he has already penned more than 650 stories across the Live News and Trends desks. A graduate in Communication from Bennett University (Times Group), he brings a newsroom-honed precision to his live weekend coverage of golf’s biggest stages. Tanmay played an instrumental role in shaping ES’ digital-first golf section, balancing real-time leaderboard updates with a thoughtful lens on what those moments mean in the sport’s broader arc. An eight-year veteran of the content and media industry, Tanmay has worked across journalism, marketing, and editorial strategy, sharpening a versatility that now powers his golf storytelling. A lifelong golf fan, he thrives on digging into the untold, off-course narratives that reveal the human side of the game, stories of grind, setbacks, and resilience that numbers on a scorecard can’t capture. Whether in the heat of a major Sunday finish or while chronicling the rise of tomorrow’s stars, Tanmay connects fans to the heartbeat of golf with clarity and empathy.

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Swati Roy

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