Justin Thomas' wild round at the
PGA ends with no shoe, no sock and a 73, leaving him 9 shots back
[May 16, 2025]
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Justin Thomas’ wild opening round at the PGA
Championship ended fittingly enough, with his left sock and shoe off
as he contemplated how to hit from an utterly ridiculous lie after
his ball came to rest on a one-foot patch of tall grass sandwiched
between a large rock and a creek next to the 18th green.
Yeah, it was that kind of a day.
For what it’s worth, Thomas somehow managed to land his chip
beautifully on the green by striking down at the ball with his lob
wedge, only to miss the 12-foot par putt and finish at 2-over-par
73, nine shots behind leader Jhonattan Vegas.
It could have been worse.
The two-time PGA champion played the first six holes in 4 over
before rallying back to 1 over for the day heading into No. 18. By
the end of his round, his scorecard had more squares and circles
than a kindergarten playroom as he finished with five birdies, five
bogeys and a double bogey.
His start was somewhat reminiscent of the 2017 PGA Championship at
Quail Hollow, which he went on to win.
Thomas began that round on the back nine and was 2 over with three
holes left. Then he bogeyed the seventh hole when he hit into the
water and flew the green on No. 8.
“I could not have been in a worse place,” Thomas said at the time.
“I was 7 yards over the green on a downslope. And now I have a chip
that I have to get up-and-down or I’m 4 over."
Thomas holed what he called “the most ridiculous flop shot I’ve ever
hit” for a birdie to shoot 73.
The following day, he shot 66 and was on his way to capturing the
Wanamaker Trophy.
Bradley: I'm not watching you
U.S. Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley was grouped with Andrew Novak
and Maverick McNealy on Thursday, two players who have aspirations
of making the team.
Bradley said that wasn't something he requested.
And, he made it clear to both players that he wasn't there to scout
them. He told them he would be focused on his own efforts to win the
championship.
“I actually kind of felt bad for the boys when I saw it,” said
Bradley, who shot a 3-under 68. “I remember my first time playing
with a captain, I played with Tom Watson at the Greenbrier, and I
was nervous to do that."
Bradley said he liked how Novak and McNealy responded to the
pressure. Both shot 70.
“There’s nothing in these two days that’s going to determine yes or
no if they’re on this team,” Bradley said. “I’m proud of the way
they played today. I’m sure that was definitely a distraction for
them. They didn’t show it. They played amazing.”
The threesome will play together again on Friday.
A Cole-in-one
Eric Cole made a hole-in-one on Thursday.
The 36-year-old Cole's tee shot on the par-3 fourth hole bounced
four times before finding the cup as Cole raised his arms in
celebration and high-fived his caddie. Cole also had a hole-in-one
at the Zurich Classic two-man team event in New Orleans two years
ago, but that doesn't count in PGA Tour records.
[to top of second column] |
Justin Thomas hits his tee shot on the eighth hole during the first
round of the PGA Championship golf tournament at the Quail Hollow
Club, Thursday, May 15, 2025, in Charlotte, N.C. (AP Photo/David J.
Phillip)
He has two aces on the Korn Ferry Tour.
“I was like right on the edge whether it was enough club or not, so
kind of hit a little bigger draw with the wind than I normally do,”
Cole said. “I was concerned it might be a touch short, but then when
I saw it land, figured it was going to be pretty good.”
PGA club pro nearly records ace
Club pro Michael Block grabbed national attention two years ago when
he made an ace while playing with Rory McIlroy at Oak Hill. On
Thursday, club pro Tyler Collet nearly duplicated the feat when his
tee shot on the 13th hole lipped out, coming to rest just a few
inches away.
“I honestly thought it went in,” said Collet, who is representing
St. John's Golf Club. “I heard the roars kind of build and then kind
of go like, aww.”
He caddie then gave him a fake high-five.
“He purposefully juked me out and I’m a little upset about it,”
Collet said, “but we’ll get him back tomorrow.”
Collet recorded the best score Thursday of the 20 club pros in the
field, a 73.
That shouldn't come as much of a surprise, given that he won the PGA
Professional Championship on April 30 by a record 10 shots to
qualify for the tournament.
Dustin's disaster
Dustin Johnson was even par through 10 holes when his round fell
apart, leaving him in danger of missing the cut in his second
straight major.
Double bogeys at Nos. 11 and 17 led to a 78.
Johnson twice three-putted from inside 6 feet. The last came on the
17th hole, when he four-putted from 50 feet. Johnson had to rely on
an invitation to play this year because his exemption for winning
the 2020 Masters has run out and he has few opportunities to earn
world ranking points playing on LIV Golf.
United Nations of golf
There are players from 12 countries among the top 10 and ties — a
major championship record. The previous mark was 11 at the British
Open in 1997 (final round), 2002 (second round) and 2006 (first
round); and the 2014 PGA Championship (second round).
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved
 |
