PGA Championship: Justin Thomas finds signs of progress in game ahead of title defense at Oak Hill | Golf News

Jon Rahm is heading to the PGA Championship as world No. 1 and Rory McIlroy is chasing a fifth main title, whereas Justin Thomas is the defending champion after the 2022 win; Watch all 4 rounds solely stay on Sky Sports activities Golf

Justin Thomas insists he can see “mild on the finish of the tunnel” in his personal sport as he seems to be to finish a irritating streak of ends in his PGA Championship title protection.

The previous world No. 1 ended a 14-month winless streak when he overturned a seven-stroke deficit within the closing spherical of final yr’s contest to grab a spectacular play-off victory, though he has struggled for consistency since successful the Wanamaker Trophy for a second. occasions final Could.

Thomas has solely managed two top-10 finishes in his 10 begins thus far this yr on the PGA Tour and fell to fifteenth on the earth, his lowest rating since 2017, with the American stuttering to a sixtieth tied place at The Gamers and lacking the cup on the Masters.

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Who will impress on the PGA Championship? Watch all 4 rounds stay from Oak Hill Nation Membership on Sky Sports activities Golf

The 30-year-old was a halfway shot on the Wells Fargo Championship earlier this month earlier than fading to a share of 14th after rounds of 70 and 71 this weekend, with Thomas inspired by what he noticed earlier than this week’s look. at Oak Hill.

“I felt like I confirmed a variety of actually good indicators in Charlotte,” Thomas stated in his pre-tournament press convention. “I feel Saturday was an important instance. It was only a spherical the place I did not actually have a lot. I felt like I left a number of strokes there putt-wise and I did not was simply not clear.

Justin Thomas is a 15-time PGA Tour winner

“I used to be hitting a variety of very poor wedges and irons. I birdied two of the final 4 holes and salvaged a sub-par sport on a tricky golf course. Bones [caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay] and I stated on the 18th inexperienced that is what we’ve not performed this yr.

“I felt like that 70 I shot that day was a spherical I shot 73 and 74 which then gave me the chance to play myself in competition with 9 holes to play, after I would not have been like that earlier than.

“He wasn’t making that putt to maintain or achieve momentum or hitting corners in there, making these two, three, 4 birdies in a row. I felt like in Charlotte, I I actually, like, turned a little bit of a nook to see extra to attain higher.”

Historic week forward for Thomas?

Brooks Koepka and Tiger Woods are the one gamers from the stroke play period to efficiently defend their PGA Championship title, whereas Thomas can match that feat and change into the sixth participant to win the occasion three or extra occasions.

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One of the best of the motion from the 2022 PGA Championship Closing Spherical in Southern Hills, the place Justin Thomas scored an unlikely win

“How I described it for a number of months is that I by no means felt thus far and so shut on the identical time,” Thomas added. “It is a very tough factor to elucidate, and it is also a really tough strategy to attempt to compete and win a golf event.

“That is the way you get by, simply taking part in your approach out and hitting photographs if you need and making these putts when it’s essential. Then your confidence goes again up and the following factor that , you do not even bear in mind what you had been considering again then.

“The best way you be taught is failure and negatives, and I really feel like I had an important alternative to be taught rather a lot in regards to the previous, no matter, six months, a number of months, this yr. I I really feel like I informed Charlotte a bit bit, I am beginning to see some mild on the finish of the tunnel.”

Watch the a hundred and fifth PGA Championship all week lengthy stay on Sky Sports activities. Dwell protection begins Thursday from 1pm on Sky Sports activities Golf.