"Disbelief Prevails": 24 hours following his "most disastrous" round of play, Justin Thomas matches the Players Championship course record
Reborn and Fired Up:
A rollercoaster ride for golfer Justin Thomas at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course during The Players Championship saw him almost shattering the course record. After a lackluster opening performance on Thursday that left him struggling to make the cut, Thomas stunned everyone with a sensational 10-under 62 on Friday, equaling the lowest 18-hole score in the event's history.
Thomas' record-equaling round boasted an impressive eleven birdies, including six in a breathtaking seven-hole stretch. Though he missed the course record by a stroke, his closing par-four 18th provided a fitting finale, as he nearly matched the record but came up just short.
Thomas teed off at the 18th needing a par to beat Tom Hoge's 2023 course record. Finding trouble in the fairway rough, he shanked his approach into the water, mirroring his previous day's triple bogey. However, he answered his frustration with a stellar approach shot, leaving himself a simple tap-in and a rise of 105 places from beyond the cut line to seven strokes off the lead at four-under par.
"I've played some great golf this year, and yesterday's round was just a fluke," Thomas commented. "I was not worried or upset on Thursday. I knew it was a bad score, but I believed in my game, and that's what mattered."
Back on Top Form
Thomas' inspiring comeback is a testament to his resilience and talent, as he continues to regain the form that saw him reach world No. 1 in 2018. The two-time major champion has endured some challenges maintaining top form in recent seasons, but three top-10 finishes in 2025 have given him the confidence to bounce back from his forgettable opening round.
"I lost nearly ten strokes ball-striking on Thursday, and the round was the worst in terms of drives and irons I've ever played,” Thomas remarked. "But I'm playing some good golf this year, and throwing that performance out has paid off profoundly."
Young Guns Shine
American Akshay Bhatia and Australian Min Woo Lee sit atop the leaderboard heading into the weekend at The Players Championship, both posting scores of 11-under par. The pair have pushed each other throughout the tournament, with each recording rounds of 67 and 66 to overtake first-round leader J.J. Spaun by a single stroke.
Bhatia, who is chasing his third PGA Tour win, spoke about the exciting future of golf with the influx of talented young players. "We've got probably the youngest group in Players history out there with me, Nick and Tommy, so it's pretty amazing to see how young golf is getting, and there are loads of young players coming up,” Bhatia shared.
Bhatia and Lee will tee off together for their third round on Saturday at 2:35 p.m. ET (6:35 p.m. GMT).
Major Stars Sputter
World No. 2 Rory McIlroy is within contention for a second Players title, having shot a 68 to move to nine-under par. McIlroy shares the lead with American duo Alex Smalley and Collin Morikawa, who fired a 65 following criticism of his behavior at the Arnold Palmer Invitational the previous week.
Morikawa opted not to speak to the media after his near-miss at Bay Hill, a decision he stands by. "I might have been a little harsh that I don't owe anyone, but I don't owe anyone. I respect the fans, and I'm grateful," Morikawa stated.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler carded a 70 to move to five-under, comfortably above the projected cut line of one-under par. However, several high-profile players struggled, with Viktor Hovland, Brian Harman, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa, and Tony Finau all at four-under overall or worse. Last year's runner-up Wyndham Clark withdrew due to a neck injury midway through his second round.
- Tom Thomas, the two-time major champion, celebrated a statistically impressive performance in golf, as he did a stunning comeback at The Players Championship, showcasing his resilience and talent after struggling initially.
- The PGA Tour witnessed a showdown between two promising young golfers, Akshay Bhatia and Min Woo Lee, who, statistically speaking, have been performing exceptionally well, with Bhatia aiming to secure his third PGA Tour win.
- Despite a few major stars like Rory McIlroy and Collin Morikaw attempting to regain their form, statistically, some high-profile players, including Viktor Hovland, Brian Harman, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa, and Tony Finau, have underperformed compared to their usual standards.
