Should Justin Thomas be so hard on himself?
Justin Thomas thinks he could and should have won more – two of our writers have differing opinions in this week’s Alternate Shot
At this time of year there is always a period of reflection and Justin Thomas explained in his pre-tournament press conference in Hawaii that he thinks he’s come up a little short so far in his career.
“I’m disappointed I haven’t achieved more, to be honest. I shouldn’t say disappointed, but I mean, I’m obviously pleased with my career thus far but I feel like I could have and should have won a lot more tournaments and definitely should have contended and won some more majors. So that’s just my opinion.”
‘If he continues like this he will be an all-time great’
JT shouldn’t be so tough on himself. It’s natural that an elite sportsperson will always think they can better where they are currently at, but at this stage in his career he’s by no means an underachiever, says Joe Hughes.
He’s consistently been one of the biggest names on the PGA Tour in recent years and hasn’t left the top 10 of the world rankings since before he won the PGA Championship in 2017.
He’s already into double figures in terms of PGA Tour wins and despite having a quiet and injury-stricken 2019, he still won two events. If he continues with this sort of record for say the next 10 years, he will go down as an all-time great.
I can understand his view when it comes to the majors as I do happen to agree that he should have won more than one but his time will come again, he’s simply too good for it not to.
The year ahead could well be the year of Thomas, he’s found his top form again and a season similar to that of 2017 is within the realms of possibility.
‘He’s a class act in every respect and should be a multiple major champion’
Dustin Johnson said this week that he probably should have won double the amount of tournaments that he’s picked up, and he’s probably about right, and Thomas is a little shy in the really big ones, says Mark Townsend.
There was the PGA Championship win in 2017, the month or so as the World No. 1 and the 11 victories in total on the PGA Tour but he’s that good that he should have been in the major mix a bit more often.
When I think of Thomas I think of him as an outstanding closer of tournaments, he’s that type of player so, even at the young age of 26, he could have an even more impressive CV.
Go to any tournament or major or Ryder Cup and it’s very quickly apparent that Thomas is a class act in every respect. Look at the way he went head-to-head with McIlroy in the Ryder Cup singles where he came out the deserved winner. If you had never watched golf before then he was the one you would pencil in as the superstar in waiting on that day.
It was telling at the Presidents Cup that Tiger, with the choice of partners, went with Thomas.
Great player, great bloke and, all being well, a multiple major champion in the near future.
Mark Townsend
Been watching and playing golf since the early 80s and generally still stuck in this period. Huge fan of all things Robert Rock, less so white belts. Handicap of 8, fragile mind and short game
