OAKMONT, Pa. — Final week, a thought popped into Justin Thomas’ head. He knew it was far-fetched, possibly even loopy, however on Monday on the U.S. Open, he had no hassle admitting that it had crossed his thoughts: What would he must do to catch world no. 1 Scottie Scheffler?
“I am positive some folks will snort,” Thomas stated, prefacing his comment. “However [I thought] can I catch him this yr?”
At first look, Thomas is nearer than most. The 2-time main winner has jumped again as much as no. 5 within the official world golf rankings this season. However the hole between Scheffler and even world no. 2 Rory McIlroy is so massive (239 factors, to be actual) that even essentially the most aggressive golfers on this planet could be sincere about the place they stand.
“Perhaps Scottie does not play or one thing,” Thomas, who is sort of 500 factors behind Scheffler within the rankings, stated with a smile. “You possibly can’t actually catch that if he retains doing what he is doing.”
Such is life with Scheffler on high of the golf world.
Regardless of a gradual begin to his 2025 season, Scheffler has kicked his sport into excessive gear over the previous two and a half months. Because the finish of March, Scheffler’s worst end is a tie for eighth on the RBC Heritage, which Thomas gained. Scheffler has six top-5 finishes, has gained 3 times in his final 4 begins — together with eventually month’s PGA Championship — and is the prohibitive favourite this week at Oakmont.
“It is easy. Each single side of his sport is unbelievable,” Thomas stated. “I believe his psychological sport is healthier than anyone out right here. To have the ability to play with these expectations and to remain current as typically as he has to me is possibly extra spectacular than even the golf he is taking part in. He simply does not make any errors and virtually form of lets himself be in competition versus forces himself in competition.”
It is that final half that Thomas himself is attempting to work on. He admitted that in latest tournaments he is allowed himself to be in competition in the course of the first two rounds earlier than attempting to drive it on the weekend. Thomas has six top-10 finishes this yr, together with a win, however he completed T-36 on the Masters and missed the minimize on the PGA Championship. The truth is, since 2013, Thomas has missed six of 10 cuts at majors.
What Scheffler has seemingly perfected is what Thomas is aware of he must do to even start excited about shrinking the hole between them. The tantalizing half is that the 32-year-old Thomas has been there earlier than — twice. In 2018, he was no. 1 for 4 weeks, and he returned to the highest spot in 2020 for 5 weeks. The largest impediment now, nevertheless, is not simply himself or the state of his sport, however somewhat the participant who has turn out to be golf’s commonplace.
“It is nonetheless on the forefront of my thoughts, and it is one thing that I am working towards,” Thomas stated. “I clearly cannot do something about what [Scheffler] is doing, and he does not appear to be displaying any indicators of slowing down or eager to. Simply attempt to win some tournaments, and hopefully get shut sooner somewhat than later.”
