Former Alabama golfer Justin Thomas with 1 of the worst drives you’ll see a pro make at U.S. Open
By Keith Farner
Published:
Former Alabama golfer Justin Thomas had a rough start on Saturday at the U.S. Open. He not only started bogey-bogey-bogey, but his day included a terrible shank off the tee with his driver, one of the worst you’d see for a pro.
Thomas dropped to plus-1 and five shots back to begin the third round, but he recovered with consecutive birdies at Nos. 5 and 6. It’s been an up-and-down tournament for Thomas, who opened with a 65, and then he stumbled to a 73 on Friday in the second round.
On Thursday, the Associated Press reported Thomas led the way with six birdies and only one bogey from a bad lie in the bunker, finishing with a 25-foot birdie putt that he barely touched for a 5-under 65.
“It’s helpful with three days left, but it’s not even remotely close to being over,” Thomas said of his best start in a U.S Open or any major. “As great of a round and fun as it was, it’s over with now, and I need to get over it.”
Friday’s round was a bounce back that could have been much worse for Thomas. Thomas birdied the long par-3 third hole and went 1 under the rest of the way for a 3-over 73 that left him 2 under, just two back.
“Every single person in this tournament is going to go through a stretch where they get a bad run, especially here,” he said, per PGATour.com. “… I wasn’t driving it well and then had a couple putts that easily could have gone in that kind of just stayed out. But I just stayed positive” he added, “and kept fighting because I know that a 3 over is better than a 4 over, and today easily could have been a 6 or 7. I’m proud of myself for how I hung in.”
Justin Thomas just yanks it with his driver. holy crap! pic.twitter.com/5iBYAZyaBG
— NorthVanMike (@NorthVanMike) September 19, 2020
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
