Justin Thomas, currently ranked No. 10 in the PGA Tour Rankings just below Tommy Fleetwood, recently came up short at the Valspar Championship. He missed the chance to secure nearly $2 million in prize money after losing to Viktor Hovland.
Following the tournament, where Thomas was expected to deliver a more commanding performance, he offered a candid self-critique. Reflecting on his future, he stated, “I just hopefully put myself in the same position in two weeks at Augusta and finish it off better.”
It’s worth noting that Thomas hasn’t won a tournament—at least one of the majors—since 2022. Expectations are high for him to bounce back as one of the favorites in The Masters, scheduled for April 13. However, in last year’s edition, he fell short of expectations.
Thomas didn’t have a losing mindset after being defeated by Viktor Hovland. He took the opportunity to congratulate the champion with a handshake, saying, “Well done. We’ll see you at Augusta.” Both will be present at The Masters, where Thomas will likely be considered a favorite.
Thomas knows there is still plenty to fight for in the PGA Championship
As a golfer, he showed that he can move forward, and that this defeat was just a setback. Despite losing, he continued signing autographs for the fans. However, he knows it was painful to lose the three-shot lead he had against Hovland.
On the other hand, champion Hovland spoke highly of Thomas, acknowledging that the lead was an important factor in the final round, but it didn’t cause him to lose control against Thomas.