Justin Thomas had a great round.

Years from now, when Justin Thomas looks back at the record-breaking 62 (-10) at TPC Sawgrass that he shot in the first round of The Players Championship , the powerful shots and precise putts may fade from memory. But the feeling he had on the day he set the record with 11 birdies - that's what will stay with him forever.

Days when the mind and body are in perfect harmony are rare, and almost unthinkable for a golfer who had previously been in a state of complete disorientation like Thomas, who shot 78 in the opening round, then set a record by improving by 16 strokes in the second round, climbing 105 places in the rankings.

Even those who understand the vagaries and unpredictability of golf have to ask: How could that happen? “It was probably one of the hardest things I’ve done in my career,” Thomas marveled at his own remarkable comeback.

“I think it’s the ability to stay focused . It’s a great skill, like being able to control the distance with a wedge,” Thomas said. “I haven’t done that in a round for a long time, so I’m probably more proud of that than the record score.”

Record round

Thomas opened with two birdies on holes 1 and 2, added three more in the first half of the round, before exploding strongly in the second half of the round with a streak of six birdies in seven consecutive holes. In particular, Thomas birdied hole 17 from 22 feet, with a putt that spun the ball hard and rolled into the hole, causing thousands of spectators to burst into laughter.

Thomas then scored 11-under, opening up a chance to claim the record. However, on the 18th hole, his tee shot with a wood went into the thick grass, and his next shot was pulled back by the grass and dropped into the water. Still in the flow, however, he responded with an approach shot that came within two feet of the flag to save bogey, closing out the round with a 62 (-10).

This result helped Thomas equal the course record score at TPC Sawgrass set by Tom Hoge in round 3 in 2023. Thomas' achievement also helped him make a spectacular cut when climbing to T29 with a total score of (-4) after 36 holes.

“I didn’t let that affect the great round I had,” Thomas said of the water shot. “It was definitely one of the best rounds I’ve ever played. The mental part was the most important thing. I felt like I did a really good job of staying focused, not thinking about the past or the future. I was just thinking: How do I get it in the fairway? How do I make a birdie? And I kept going. I putted really well. It was just a day where everything came together.”

Justin Thomas and caddie Matt Minister celebrate a record round of 62.

From frustration to explosion

To truly understand the brilliance of this comeback, it’s worth remembering how Justin Thomas struggled in the opening round. Thomas started on the 10th hole and had two birdies, before making a double bogey on the famous par-3 17th with its central green. He then teed off in the water on the 18th and made a triple bogey. Thomas admitted to making poor decisions on both holes.

At that point, Thomas felt he had nothing to lose. “I thought, ‘Could it get any worse?’” he recalled. But the nightmare was not over. Thomas shot +5s on just four holes, from Nos. 4 to 7. His closing score of 78 left him tied for 134th out of 144, seemingly on the brink of elimination.

The turning point from encouragement and change of tactics

Thomas revealed that his wife, Jillian, who was waiting on the 18th hole with their four-month-old daughter Molly Grace after the round, helped keep his spirits up after a bad day.

“She’s been fantastic,” Thomas said, “always trying to keep me positive, reminding me that I’m in great shape. The hardest thing is just getting back in the frame of mind to start the next round.”

With the help of caddie Matt "The Reverend" Minister, Thomas decided to play bolder, as he felt he had been too cautious in his competition this season. "That's not who I am," he admitted. " The Reverend and I talked about it because I'm in good form. I have to keep going. Don't be shy." And Thomas did just that, as a round of 62 is certainly not for the faint-hearted.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/justin-thomas-ky-tich-62-gay-va-man-loi-nguoc-dong-ngoan-muc-nhat-the-players-championship-post1725316.tpo