Justin Thomas puts Open disasterclass behind him: "Couldn't tell you what I was thinking"
Former world number one Justin Thomas was pleased to put his disaster 12 months ago at Royal Liverpool behind him with a superb start in Scotland.
Former world number one Justin Thomas says 'everything' in his game is better after he laid to rest the demons of 12 months ago on the first day of The Open.
Thomas carded an opening round of three under 68 at Royal Troon.
It is a far cry from where the American was 12 months ago at Royal Liverpool where he made a nine on the 18th hole in the first round and returned a scorecard for an 11-over 82.
Thomas was visibly emotional and admitted he was in a lonely place.
It was a forgettable year for Thomas as he also missed cuts at The Masters, U.S. Open and settled for a tie for 65th at the PGA Championship.
He was also part of the US Ryder Cup side that was brushed aside in Italy.
But here, Thomas raced out of the blocks and turned in three under.
His round threatened to unravel with back-to-back bogeys at 12 and 13, but he fought hard.
Thomas steadied the ship with pars at 14, 15 and 16 before making consecutive birdies at the 17th and 18th.
"I couldn't even tell you what I was thinking or how it was then," Thomas told reporters on Thursday, recalling what happened at Royal Liverpool.
"I'm just worried about how I am now, and I'm very pleased with my game and know things are continuing to work in the right direction.
"I've just got to keep trying to play well."
So what is the difference?
"I don't know. I'm just doing, I would say, everything better," he said.
He added: "I feel like everything has been turning the right way, and I've been working on the right things.
"Just like I said, I haven't really had much to show for it. That's just how this game works sometimes.
"But I know that I'm close the way it is, and I'm just going to keep playing and not play for results, just play for my game, and it'll take care of itself."
"The worst par-three's in the world are the long ones"
Thomas managed to make easy work of the par-three eighth hole.
The Postage Stamp could cause carnage over the next few days.
Rory McIlroy was one of the victims on day one, making a double bogey five.
Perhaps Thomas would've thought differently had he not recorded a birdie.
But he was in agreement that the best par-threes in the world are the shorter ones.
"The worst par-threes in the world are the long ones," he said.
"I've never played a bad one that's 120 yards."
He continued: "But it's just kind of the general, I would say, consensus of architecture in general.
"It seems like it needs to be longer to be difficult.
"One of my favourite holes in the world is still from the Northeast Amateur, playing -- it's like a 110- or 120-yard par-three and it's a super small green, and those holes can be just as challenging.
"But because of the club you have in your hand, you're expecting and thinking you should make birdie.
"I think the eighth hole here is a great example of that, especially given certain winds.
"You're very happy to walk off with a three [so] it was nice to make a two today."
