Justin Thomas said he was humiliated and embarrassed after failing to qualify for the US Open. Credit: AP/Lindsey Wasson
While a Ricky Fowler resurgence will stir up US Captain Zach Johnson as the countdown to the Ryder Cup in September intensifies, Justin Thomas's pathetic form will be a huge concern.
The former world No. 1 returned to South Florida by the time the third round of the US Open began here at the Los Angeles Country Club, he had already begun to tackle the challenge of lifting himself out of what he prays is the bottom.
Of course, after Friday 81, which he called «humiliating», there is no other direction but up. It was one of two results in the 80s in the first two rounds. So much so that LACC was «too easy» for the top names as records fell and whoops rose, it was an unworthy test for the most demanding major of all.
At 14 over, there were only three players in a field of 156 behind Thomas. Thanks to Kentukian for facing the press afterwards because it was clear he was devastated and most likely in shock.
«It's definitely the lowest I've ever felt,» he said. “Honestly, it’s humiliating and embarrassing to take off those glasses. I really enjoyed the golf course. I thought it was set up really well and I was rocking great. I was really, really good at hitting and I felt like I could 100% win this golf tournament.”
If only it was a gaffe. In truth, since he won his second PGA title in the US 13 months ago, the wheels have come off in dramatic style. Usually so consistent, Thomas has racked up more misses than the top 10 during this period and dropped from the top five in the world to 16th, his worst ranking in seven years.
He crashed out at the Masters, then finished in a tie and placed 65th as the defending champion at the second major of the season, the US PGA at Oak Hill four weeks ago, and then dropped out early at the Memorial. two weeks ago with another one here.
“Fun game, man,” Thomas said. “It can leave you speechless, in both good and bad, and right now, unfortunately, this is bad. Once I can kind of reflect and figure out what I can learn and improve, you know it will end well. But now it sucks.”
The problem is that Thomas isn't quite sure what needs to be fixed. «It's all pretty shitty,» he said. The 30-year-old has begun using the «AimPoint» throwing method, in which the golfer crosses the path of the ball to the hole, to try and work out this slope, but the problems clearly lie deeper than that, or, in fact, his claim. that he just doesn't score well enough.
Thomas looks troubled during the disastrous second round of the US Open on Friday. Photo: Getty Images/David Cannon
Thomas will compete at the $20 million Traveler Championship starting in Connecticut on Thursday and then at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit. and then take a week off before going to play the Scottish Open and Open at Hoylake.
Time is not his friend — not in this main season, anyway — but luckily Tiger Woods, and it won't be a surprise if Thomas goes to his former mentor to get himself back on track.
“I'll guess. Throw it away,” Thomas said. “I have one more major left. If I win the British Open, no one will even remember that I missed by a million here. I just have to try to find a way to get better and learn from it. If I can, I won't have to look at this week as a complete failure.»
This must be Thomas' worldview. «When you're not doing as well as you should, it's pretty easy to get angry and realize what's going wrong,» he said. “I have preached this to myself and I have said this to the young guys who are asking: how do you learn, these are failures and negatives. Over the past six months, I have had a great opportunity to learn a lot.”
Johnson's concern will be acute. Thomas has dropped to 11th in the standings, with only the top six confident of their place in Rome. As one of the most popular figures on the team, whose partnership with his childhood friend Jordan Spieth is taken for granted, «JT» is an important figure for Team USA and Johnson will desperately need him at the Marco Simone Golf Club.
However, in this state, Johnson will surely find it impossible to provide him with one of the six wildcards. Thomas has something to show his captain with 11 weeks left in the qualifying race — and the relevance doesn't end with the Ryder Cup. Thomas is ranked 78th in the PGA Tour FedEx Cup standings—essentially the PGA Tour money list—and is in danger of missing out on the August playoffs at the end of the season for the first time.
Thomas won't panic, and how how and Woods, he has his father Mike's advice to be his coach again. He saw Fowler equal the US Open scoring record at 36 holes, standing 10th under halfway through, and was inspired by the fact that his friend had been career 185 just nine months earlier.
Thomas can make a difference quickly, and he will have to if his only option is to visit Rome just as a fan.
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