Justin Thomas misses the cut, and he explains why in the most blunt way possible

Justin Thomas did not make the cut this week at the Travelers Championship. He shot 1-over 71 in the first round at TPC River Highlands and 1-over in the second round. He was 138th, out of 154 players, in strokes gained: approach to green, which, in simple terms, means his approach shots were poor. He was 153rd in strokes gained: putting, which, in simple terms, means his putting was even worse. 

Time for a lesson. 

Not for him. From him. 

“Tips from the Tour… Want a weekend off? Hit your irons poorly, and make zero putts. It’s as easy as that Week off to get some rest and get things right before the “Columbus swing”!” Thomas wrote on Instagram after his second round, the “Columbus swing” referencing the PGA Tour’s back-to-back tournaments at Muirfield Village in two weeks. 

Thomas’ game was a bit off this week. His comedy was not. If you can’t laugh at your own golf game, what can you laugh at?

“When I read that out loud, I literally LOL,” fellow player Tony Finau responded. 

On two shots over his second nine, Thomas’ game and humor were on. 

On the par-3 5th, his 15th hole of the day, he knocked an iron to within about 6 feet. From the tee box 229 yards away, it seemed oh-so-much closer. 

Beggars can be golfers.

“Do it. Do it. Do it. Go,” Thomas said as his ball inched toward the hole. When it stopped, he was on his elbows and knees, his arms covering his head. “I am full beg right now. You can’t beg harder,” said Thomas, who then missed the birdie putt. 

“When you can’t get a putt to drop, all shots need to go in to help the score,” Thomas wrote on Twitter under a video of the shot. “One of those weeks! Always enjoy my time at @TravelersChamp”

On the par-4 9th, his last hole of the tournament, he cut the corner of the dogleg right with his 324-yard drive. He was left with a 45-yard approach. 

If you’re going to go out, go out with a blast. 

“Where you at, Bryson?” Thomas said as the ball was in the air, a shot at the Tour’s distance sensation, Bryson DeChambeau.   

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Nick Piastowski

Golf.com Editor

Nick Piastowski is a Senior Editor at Golf.com and Golf Magazine. In his role, he is responsible for editing, writing and developing stories across the golf space. And when he’s not writing about ways to hit the golf ball farther and straighter, the Milwaukee native is probably playing the game, hitting the ball left, right and short, and drinking a cold beer to wash away his score. You can reach out to him about any of these topics — his stories, his game or his beers — at nick.piastowski@golf.com.

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