Justin Thomas Wins in Hawaii

Justin Thomas has picked a very good way to start the new decade by emerging the winner at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Kapalua, Hawaii. This would be his 12th US PGA Tour Title. The final game was a play-off where he faced defending champion, Xander Schauffele, and Patrick Reed.

Thomas initially had the lead over the two players but lost it when he made two bogeys during regulation.

This resulted in him playing extra holes with the two players. Schauffele was the first to be eliminated at the first hole after making a par. Thomas and Reed continued at the second hole, scaling through to the third where Thomas made a birdie, securing his victory. This was after Reed missed the chance to make an eight-foot birdie at the third.

It may seem that Thomas’ victory came by luck, as things did not seem in his favor initially. He missed the chance to save himself and claim victory early when he made two mistakes both on the 16th and 18th, where he made a bogey.

But he was not the only one who made mistakes as Schauffele also lost out a chance of sealing victory by failing to progress after the first extra hole, also missing an eight-foot birdie chance. The event seemed more in his favor after starting the day a shot ahead of Thomas.

The event was exclusively for PGA Tour winners in the previous year. The last time Thomas won it was in 2017, and Reed would be a runner up for the second time after he won it last in 2015.

Speaking after the match, Thomas acknowledged the luck, saying, “I got very, very lucky”. This is not to say that he did not play a good game, but his victory was not merely by how good he played.

Written by: Leon Osamor