Justin Thomas reacts to Tiger Woods dressing as Batman at Comic Con

Justin Thomas heads into the Valspar Championship upbeat despite a "weird" week at The Players Championship. 

Thomas his sixth PGA Tour event at Innisbrook Resort this week off the back of a T33 finish at TPC Sawgrass. 

One thing that stood out as he attempted to defend his title was a Saturday 3-under 69 in conditions that resembled a mini tornado. 

It was a round that Thomas later said was one of the greatest in his life. He painted the Florida sky with some beautiful shot tracers. 

The high draw. The low hook. The butter cut. The flighted 6-iron onto the island green at the 17th which wreaked havoc. It was all there.

His caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay was reaching for his putter as soon as he heard his player make contact on approach shots.

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Was Thomas surprised with the level of attention that round received?

The 28-year-old told the media: "Yes and no. I mean, I think yes because you generally, like you said, don't get that kind of reaction out of a 3-under. But no because I think some of the people that followed it and watched it understood just how hard it was that day.

"It truly was. I've never had a round of golf that was that difficult when the course is that soft. It's always that difficult because the course is really firm and fast and can get away from you.

"But that was one of the softest greens that we'll play all year and it was one of the, probably the hardest rounds that, hopefully the hardest round I'll play all year.

"So, yeah, I took a lot of pride in that round. So I was glad to have a lot of people come up -- I have definitely never had so many players come up to me and tell me that either weren't playing or was in the other wave watching on TV that they enjoyed watching.

"So I guess I can take a little bit of pride in that."

Thomas' first round tee time meant that he was able to attend Tiger Woods' induction into the hall of fame. 

What were his impressions of that night?

"Yeah, it was really cool. I was very pleased, although I wish I would have had a morning tee time, looking back on it now, so I couldn't have gone, but I was happy to get an afternoon tee time so I could go.

"It was so special, and, I mean, I love Tiger to death, but Sam stole the show, in my eyes. Her speech was unbelievable.

"And, I mean, it's a lot of pressure for, I think, 13 she is and to be able to go up in front of that big crowd and probably never done any public speaking to that stage was unbelievable. I mean, it was cool.

"My parents got to come and just I think the entire world of golf was, obviously it was deserving. It was going to happen.

"It was just a matter of time kind of thing. But everybody, myself included, was very pleased and felt special to be there to see him get inducted, and not just him, the other recipients as well."

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Did Thomas learn anything new about Woods?

He said: "About him? I don't think so. I mean, definitely some of the stories as a kid. I think that was one of the coolest things and very underrated parts to me is his speech was all probably stuff that happened maybe before 2000.

"It didn't even address really his success and his accolades on the golf course. I mean, all the stuff that he remembers is the stuff growing up, the time with his dad, and now I'm sure what he's kind of going through with Charlie, the same type thing.

"But those were his first memories of golf and what got him to where he is now, just like a lot of the same for me.

"I mean, all my fondest and greatest memories are, some of them are just hanging out with my dad and going out and practicing and chipping contests and those little things and habits that we created just like he did.

"So I thought that was really cool."

Thomas also paid tribute to his own father and coach Mike during his press conference. 

He said as a youngster he would practice all day and wait for his father to finish coaching at around 7pm. 

Then they would play nine holes for a dollar, Thomas said. 

He added: "Those are kind of my first just memories and just getting into the game of golf and probably what started my competitiveness."

One thing that stood out in Woods' speech was the fact he mentioned he used to attend Comic Con dressed as Batman. 

So if Woods, who has previously described Thomas as a brother to his son Charlie, invited him to attend, what superhero would he go as?

Thomas joked: "I think I would let him do that one solo."

Next page: PGA Tour player had his caddie replaced with "the most disorganized human"