Ryder Cup skipper after Justin Thomas' Open disaster-class? "I'm concerned"
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson admitted he was concerned with the form of Justin Thomas after his dreadful Open Championship.
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson admitted he was 'concerned' with the form of Justin Thomas after his disastrous Open.
Two-time major champion Thomas has endured what could be described as a miserable major season, given his lofty standards.
He missed the cut out of absolutely nowhere at the Masters, tied for 65th at the PGA Championship and missed the cut by 'a zillion' at the U.S. Open.
The former World No. 1 looked forlorn during the first round of the 2023 Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
If things were bad at the U.S. Open championship then they got even worse for Thomas here.
He slumped to an opening round of 11-over 82. Did you know that was the worst round of his major career?Yeah, it's that bad.
"Well, as a friend and roommate, I'm concerned," said Johnson to a pool of reporters at Hoylake.
"Just because he's my buddy and I know what he's capable of and that sort of thing."
Johnson is right to point out what Thomas is capable of, particularly in the Ryder Cup. He boasts a stellar record.
"He's one of the best there is," added the 47-year-old after his second round of 69, which left him on the 2-over cut line.
Bunker to Bunker for Justin Thomas. He would go on to make a 9 on the par-5 18th. Shoots a round of 82 (+11). #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/rVN82yaLzm
— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 20, 2023
Johnson continued:
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☠️ Justin Thomas…
pic.twitter.com/MHsFOK8SRJ— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 20, 2023
Thomas previously said he was 'humiliated' with his performance at Los Angeles Country Club.
At the time, he said if he won the Open then nobody would remember that he missed the cut 'by a zillion'.
Going forward, Thomas will need to improve dramatically. He is in danger of missing out on the PGA Tour's FedExCup playoffs at this rate.
He might even need some sponsor exemptions into the designated events next season, which is not a sentence we expected to be writing about the golfer.
Thomas said:
He added: "I'm trying to look at the big picture. I'm trying to not focus too much on days like yesterday. I'm trying not to dwell on it or just -- you never want to do it in any event, but it just sucks when it's the first round of a major and you have no chance anymore.
"But I mean, everybody has their waves, their kind of momentum and rides and rock bottoms, whatever you want to call it. I just keep telling myself, this is it, I'm coming out of it, and I unfortunately have surprised myself a couple times with some bad rounds.
"It doesn't mean a day's good play like today doesn't get a spark going. I don't know. All I can do is try to be in the frame of mind for it, too."
Open Championship 2023 info:
- The Open Championship field
- The Open Championship tee times
- The Open Championship odds
- LIV Golf players in the field
- Streaming information
- How to watch
- Schedule
- Prize money information
- Exemption categories
- Players who are exempt but not competing
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- Feature: Oliver Wilson interview
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- Paige Spiranac weighs in on enduring debate
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- Jon Rahm backs PGA Tour boss
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- McIlroy finally speaks to the media!
- R&A announces new tournament
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- Par-3 17th claims first victim!
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