AUGUSTA, Ga. — One ball took off straight. And another went right. Justin Thomas promised to tighten “stuff” up, but this stuff looked a little loose.
During Saturday’s third round of the Masters, Thomas limped off Augusta National having hit just six of 14 fairways, 42.86 percent. No one was worse. Two others were tied. For perspective, the leaders in driving accuracy — Sungjae Im, Tommy Fleetwood and Cameron Champ — missed just one fairway. He said he had work to do.
“Man, I drove it terribly,” said Thomas, who scrambled to an even-par 72. “It was tough. It was really tough out there. I guess to shoot even with how I hit it is good. I felt like I had that run there, 11 through 15, that I feel like I definitely let some go, which would have been nice.
“It is what it is. I don’t mean it in a bad way, but unfortunately Scottie’s [Scheffler] playing well today, for my sake. But anything can happen out here. I’ll just go get some stuff tightened up and see if we can go crazy tomorrow.”
Then came the range.
Golf Channel cameras captured it in their post-round show. Thomas hit a fairway metal. His caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay looked forward. Then he looked right, rocked back and widened his eyes. His man had hit one ball forward, and if you close enough on the video above, another ball was hit almost simultaneously. That one popped almost straight up and then rolled a handful of yards forward.
Thomas gave it a look, too. He then slid his club down his fingers, gave Mackay a nod and smiled. He looked at the club face and cocked his right hand up. It happens. There were still other balls to hit.
Things were still a little loose. Tightening needed to be done.
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