It is safe to say Justin Thomas didn’t envision this. Neither the 8-over 79 in the third round nor the fans who were too eager to rub salt into the two-time Major Champion’s wounds. After carding 68 and 69 in the first two rounds, the 30-year-old was tied for 6th, trying to cut through the clutter of a packed Valspar Championship leaderboard. 

He did but in the opposite direction. Abysmal putting – he made only one birdie – saw him crash out of contention on the moving day. Thomas lost around eight strokes (SG: Total -7.740) compared to the field. To add to his woes, the nightmarish round became a subject of scorn for fans who were waiting on the wings to attack Thomas.

Justin Thomas dropped 60 places in the leaderboard

Justin Thomas came to the Valspar after missing the cut at THE PLAYERS Championship. At the Copperhead course, the 15-time PGA Tour winner showed early signs of resurgence. It looked like the 2022 PGA Championship winner was going to carry the momentum having birdied the opening hole.

However, a bogey on the par 4 2nd started off a trend that continued till the par 5 14th in the back nine. Thomas picked four bogeys on the front nine along with a double bogey at the par 4 7th. Finishing the front nine at 5-over, the 15-time PGA Tour winner made three further bogeys in the back nine. 

Trending

Is Scottie Scheffler Taking a Paternity Leave to Support Wife Meredith and Their Baby?

April 25, 2024 04:16 PM EDT

‘Circuses for Drunks’: Fans Blame LIV Golf After Caddie Faces Brutal Attack on the Course

April 27, 2024 02:30 PM EDT

Despite Harsh Neglect From Greg Norman, Phil Mickelson Gets Last Laugh at LIV Golf Adelaide

April 28, 2024 02:28 PM EDT

‘Shut It Down’: Fans Embrace Jordan Spieth’s Verdict After Billy Horschel’s Rory McIlroy Stance

April 27, 2024 11:00 AM EDT

2024 LIV Golf Adelaide: Prize Money Breakdown and Winner’s Payout

April 27, 2024 07:30 PM EDT

Get instantly notified of the hottest Golf stories via Google! Click on Follow Us and Tap the Blue Star.

Follow Us

Although the infamous ‘Snake Pit’ didn’t test him any further – Thomas saved par in his last four holes – the damage was already done. Justin Thomas ended his round at 8-over 79 tying for the 66th spot. But fans don’t sympathize with Thomas’s plight on the course.

Last week, the 30-year-old claimed that if he won THE PLAYERS it wouldn’t carry an asterisk, a jab at Talor Gooch’s comments about the Masters. After he went on to miss the cut, Gooch’s LIV Golf team, Smash GC, savagely roasted Thomas on X (formerly Twitter). Fans haven’t forgotten how it looks.

It’s payback time for Thomas, netizens declare

Notably, Justin Thomas also took a dig at Mito Pereira in the Champion’s dinner at the 2023 PGA Championship. The two-time Major winner raised a toast to the LIV Golfer for throwing away his chances, which actually paved the way for his triumph. It didn’t land well on social media, as many found the joke was in bad taste. This time, one fan tweeted, “Think he’ll thank Mito for this one too?” Whereas, another fan feels, Justin Thomas, is the ‘most arrogant’ golfer on the Tour right now. 

Notably, Thomas has missed two cuts in his last three events. Some felt that, if Justin Thomas was arrogant, this should be a humbling experience. Some, however, weren’t willing to cut him any slack. They noted that all Thomas does now is talk about LIV Golfers. He and his buddy, Jordan Spieth, who missed the cut here as well, are ‘temporary’ stars, one fan opined.

Was Justin Thomas a victim of the first hole curse? Some definitely think so. They think that JT is not to be blamed here. Because, if you birdie your first hole, the round is going to be a disaster for sure. It’s a popular superstition that played a role in Thomas’ misfortune, per the netizens.

Justin Thomas is now 13 shots off the lead in the final round. Keith Mitchell fired 5-under 66 to move to the top spot at Palm Harbor. Thomas’ last victory came at the 2022 PGA Championship.

Justin Thomas Opens Up About Unstable ‘Momentum’ That Is Turning Both Hero & Villain For the Star