I Finally Overcame the Drought: Justin Thomas Claims PGA Tour Victory After 1064 Days in a Playoff Showdown

Justin Thomas has made a triumphant return to the winner’s circle, celebrating his first victory in 1,064 days at the RBC Heritage in South Carolina on Monday.

The two-time major champion entered the final round trailing Si Woo Kim, who shot an impressive 3-under 68. However, Thomas displayed remarkable skill to surpass Kim and force a playoff against Andrew Novak.

At 31 years of age, Thomas played the final round without a single bogey, finishing the tournament at 17-under.

Both competitors found the green to kick off the playoff. Unfortunately for Novak, a missed attempt from around 31 feet meant he could not secure the title, leaving Thomas to nervously await his chance to sink a tricky 21-foot putt.

“That was quite a thrill,” Thomas remarked.

“It was as exhilarating as I had anticipated.”

This playoff represented the seventh of Thomas’s career, where he has now won five deciding matches to secure his place on the PGA Tour.

Reflecting on his win, Thomas acknowledged that he had forgotten just how much he “missed the thrill of winning” as he celebrated his 16th PGA Tour title.

“I didn’t realise how much I missed it,” he expressed.

“You tend to take for granted how challenging it is to win. I know I did at the start of my career.

“I was fortunate enough to play some exceptional golf early on and felt like victories would come naturally every year. That mindset might have contributed to the dry spell.

“It’s tough to maintain patience when you feel you have plenty of opportunities ahead of you. You never know how things will shake out, but I truly believed it was my time today.”

Beginning the tournament strongly, Thomas posted a stunning 10-under 71 to equal the course record.

His progress slowed in the subsequent rounds, but he persevered to ultimately clinch the title.

Before the tournament, he boasted four top-three finishes, including two second-place results at the start of this season.

On the other hand, for Novak, the RBC Heritage represented the third occasion this season where he has come close to a title only to fall short in the final round.

A victory would have been a milestone achievement for Novak, given that he has only participated in one major tournament in his career.

Cameron Davis was the top-performing Australian, finishing tied for 13th at 10-under. Adam Scott and Jason Day ended at 4-under, while Min Woo Lee concluded at 2-under.