Justin Thomas ‘drove it terribly’ at Fortinet Championship but is happy

After a month-long hiatus, Justin Thomas is again enjoying on the PGA Tour.

He carded a 3-under 69 to open the Fortinet Championship regardless of hitting simply 3-of-14 fairways.

“I assumed I managed my recreation fairly effectively,” Thomas stated to Golf Channel’s Kira Ok. Dixon after the spherical.

“I drove it terribly for a lot of the day. I actually really feel like I salvaged a superb spherical out of what I had. I made some very nice putts; greens obtained bumpy on the finish, so it was good to cruise to the end line however nonetheless a stable begin.”

Thomas did putt effectively Thursday, one thing he might want to do in Italy for the Ryder Cup in two weeks. In fact, Thomas’ choice to the workforce was met with controversy due to the sub-par season that he had.

He struggled all through 2023 due to his points off the tee. The Alabama product ranked 132nd this season in driving accuracy, discovering fairways simply 56.2% of the time.

Picture by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Pictures

On Thursday, that pattern continued, as he ranked one centesimal within the subject in strokes gained off the tee. Solely 9 golfers within the 156-man subject hit fewer fairways than he did.

“I had nothing,” Thomas continued.

“I used to be lacking fairways; it didn’t matter if it was Driver, 3-wood, or 5-wood. I couldn’t hit the green, however I stored tinkering till I discovered one thing, and I did. So that’s the sort of stuff I get pleasure from greater than something, salvaging a spherical like at present when it very simply may have been one or two over.”

Thomas sits in a tie for 18th—with U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Zach Johnson—after Thursday’s spherical, six strokes behind chief Lucas Herbert.

Defending champion Max Homa, the one different Ryder Cupper within the subject this week, carded a 2-under 70.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By. You’ll be able to observe him on Twitter @jack_milko for extra golf protection. Remember to try @_PlayingThrough too.