Justin Thomas said he felt there was no pressure on him this week at the Fortinet Championship.
That hasn’t changed now that he heads into the final round just two shots off the lead. And he’s reveling in the thrill of being in contention for a PGA Tour title again.
“It’s the best. The crowd is amazing today, seemed like there was quite a lot of people out there,” Thomas said Saturday night. “The finishing stretch obviously creates a lot of excitement. Yeah, this is why all of us play, so it’s nice to be a part of those roars a little bit.
It wouldn’t be surprising for Thomas to feel extra pressure this week, however. This is his first start since being named as a captain’s pick for the U.S. Ryder Cup team after his worst season as a pro. It’s also his last before the matches which begin in two weeks in Rome.
While he is playing to validate captain Zach Johnson’s faith in him, he’s also playing for something else this week: money.
Here is the complete payout breakdown for the 2023 Fortinet Championship. The total purse is $8.4 million.
Jack Hirsh is the Associate Equipment Editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is a 2020 graduate of Penn State University, earning degrees in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his high school golf team and recently returned to the program to serve as head coach. Jack also still *tries* to remain competitive in local amateurs. Before joining GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as a Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but also producing, anchoring and even presenting the weather. He can be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.