Instead of dragging Augusta National with him, Justin Thomas has decided to focus on what’s next. The defending RBC Heritage champion heads to Harbour Town after an inconsistent Masters showing, where he never really threatened. He now has a chance to win a title he already owns, with a $3.6 million prize waiting for him. And a sports commentator’s hidden advice might help him in doing so.

Thomas recently took to X to share his mindset, writing, “Masters week never disappoints. The course played incredibly! A lot of good in my game but not quite sharp enough to get into contention. Few days to reset and fine tune before trying to win another plaid jacket @RBC_Heritage!”

In 2024, he came in fifth at this event and has finished in the top 25 three times in a row at the RBC Heritage. He hasn’t played enough rounds this season to officially be in the statistical rankings, but his strokes gained around the green (0.605) is still very good. That number would put him fourth on tour if he played the minimum number of rounds. This skill set should come in handy on a course with tricky pin placements and contoured greens.

Speaking on why Thomas remains a great bet for the RBC Heritage, even as he isn’t in the top 10 for the shortest odds, Sport commentator Mark Immelman said:

“Oftentimes, when you go back to a place you have won, the happy hunting ground elicits those feelings that I can do this stuff. And I remember I hit that shot there, and I did this moment there, and so you get back there, and it just raises the confidence without even hitting a shot. So, for a guy who was a little inconsistent at Augusta National, for a guy who was returning from a microdiscectomy surgery, I feel like this stop is exactly what the doctor is ordering,” Immelman said.

Justin Thomas made his return in early 2026 after undergoing a microdiscectomy in November 2025 to fix a disc issue in his back. This procedure typically requires a recovery timeline of around three months, and Thomas was cleared for full golf activity by February. However, he didn’t rush his way back, first testing himself in controlled settings before making his official return at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

He also admitted that there would be rust after several months away, and it was evident early, but he showed signs of progress soon after, particularly at The Players Championship, where he opened with a 4-under 68 following a difficult prior start, calling it a reassuring sign that his game “wasn’t as far off”.

Admitting the same, Immelman added to his views with a hint of advice for JT.

“He played well at the Players Championship, he contended there, and was solid in Valspar, the masters last week. There were some flashes of brilliance, but every time he hit something worthwhile, there was like a step back, so it was one forward, two back, two forward, one back. This week, going back to a place he’s won, will be very good for the psyche, and so I expect JT to bring out some of his best”.

That said, let’s look at how he won the 2025 RBC Heritage to understand what he might need to do to repeat the feat.

Justin Thomas’ 2025 RBC Heritage performance review

Last year, Justin Thomas performed as well at the PGA National Champion Course as Rory McIlroy did in the 2026 Masters Tournament. He scored 23 birdies and only 5 bogeys across the four rounds of the event.

There were two things that played to Thomas’ benefit in the 2025 RBC Heritage. First, he found the greens in regulation quite frequently, at 70.83% – that was the fifth best on the field that week. Second, when he was on the green, he only needed 1.59 putts to complete the hole, helping him make those birdies in 72 holes.

But what was most impressive about his performance was that he tied the lowest score on the course as well. In the first round, Thomas shot a 10-under 61 to take an emphatic lead in the tournament. The 32-year-old also tied the course record with that score. He only had to keep the mistakes to a minimum and continue performing well in the remaining rounds.

That’s exactly what he did. He didn’t commit many bogeys and also had a flawless Championship Sunday. That was enough for him to tie with Andrew Novak after 72 holes. And just one playoff hole later, Thomas was wearing the plaid jacket.

Going into the event in 2026, he should focus on the same goals. Breaking the course record might not be one of them, but he should avoid making too many mistakes. That will certainly help him in his efforts to retain the RBC Heritage title.