What a distinction a day makes for Justin Thomas. After capturing a 6-over 78 within the first spherical of the Players Championship, the American fired a scorching 10-under 62 within the second spherical to tie the course report at TPC Sawgrass.
Tom Hoge held the earlier course report by himself together with his 10-under 62 in 2023. Coincidentally, Thomas was in Hoge’s group to witness the 62 that day. Now he joins Hoge within the historical past books.
Thomas’ unimaginable second spherical vaulted him from T134 to T30. The 16-shot enchancment is the largest enchancment between rounds in Gamers Championship historical past.
The stats present simply how unimaginable Thomas’ turnaround was from Thursday to Friday. The World No. 9 misplaced 4.978 strokes from off the tee and three.923 strokes on method within the first spherical, principally as a result of he hit simply 6-of-14 fairways and 5-of-18 greens. That utterly flipped within the second spherical, as Thomas gained 1.714 strokes from off the tee and three.688 on method. He hit 11-of-14 fairways and 14-of-18 greens.
Though Thomas might be thrilled together with his record-tying day, he’ll nonetheless be disenchanted when he drives off the property. The 31-year-old made an extended birdie putt on the par-3 seventeenth gap to succeed in 11 below par, that means he simply wanted a par on 18 to interrupt the course report. After a wayward drive to the appropriate tough, although, he pulled his layup into the water on the left to smash his possibilities at a 61. Luckily, he obtained up-and-down from his drop to complete off the 62.
Thomas went from wanting up early flights residence to creating the reduce with ease and placing himself in place to win his second Gamers Championship. If he retains up this stage of play, he’ll have an opportunity to catch the leaders this weekend.
