Opinion & Analysis

Justin Thomas shoots 59 in opening round of Sony Open

Published

9 years ago

Jan 12, 2017

At the age of 23, Justin Thomas became the youngest player in PGA Tour history to shoot 59. He shot 11-under par on Thursday in Round 1 of the 2017 Sony Open at Waialae Country Club.

Related: Justin Thomas WITB 2017

Thomas, who won the SBS Tournament of Champions last week in Hawaii, started his round with an eagle on hole No. 10 (he teed off on the back nine), and finished with an eagle on his last hole.

Screen Shot 2017-01-12 at 7.22.13 PM

Playing alongside Jordan Spieth and Daniel Berger, Thomas rolled in a 12-foot eagle attempt on No. 9 to become the seventh golfer in history to break 60 on the PGA Tour.

PGATOUR: Justin Thomas watches himself shoot 59.

Kind of surreal. pic.twitter.com/TgCueQgOzN

— Carolina Petes (@carolinapetes) January 13, 2017

Thomas’ round wasn’t flawless. To go along with eight birdies and two eagles, he actually made a bogey on No. 11, but his round heated up when he made birdie on 8-of-10 holes during the middle of his round, leading him into the history books.

Not a bad start to 2017 for Justin Thomas.

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25 Comments

Joey

Mar 1, 2017 at 11:12 am

Lol well so he destroyed my best round of a 71.

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Egor

Jan 13, 2017 at 9:43 am

Big deal… then go do it and prove to all of us how easy it is.

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golfraven

Jan 13, 2017 at 6:53 am

I predict he will have his first green jacket before Rory does. I like his style and how he handles himself off the course – Spieth should look closer at his pal.

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- Steve
  
  Jan 13, 2017 at 11:39 am
  
  What has Jordan done off the course to garner this negative criticism?
  
  Reply Report comment
S Hitty

Jan 13, 2017 at 3:45 am

Errrrrr that would be birdie on 8 of 10 holes, mate. He had scored under par on 10 of 12 with 2 eagles of the 10, but in those other holes he was 8 of 10.
Learn to not get too excited and way ahead of yourself when writing this stuff

Reply Report comment
- Zak Kozuchowski
  
  Jan 13, 2017 at 7:28 am
  
  We have corrected the error. Would you mind choosing a different posting name in the future? It’s getting flagged by our language filter.
  
  Reply Report comment
- IHateGolfIsAwesome
  
  Jan 13, 2017 at 9:03 am
  
  Or, you can find a different site to get free content from if the journalistic standards here aren’t to your liking. I wonder if you’d have added the snarky comment at the end to a co-worker. If not, why is it ok to do it here?
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Tab
    
    Jan 13, 2017 at 2:56 pm
    
    Who grabbed your panties in a knot? In what hole have you been hiding? This is WRX where snarky comments enrich golfers interest in all things tabloid!
    
    Reply Report comment
BooBunkie

Jan 13, 2017 at 3:17 am

Well done young man!! I don’t know why a clown would slander your efforts by mentioning Eldrick in the same breath, but you know, must be one ‘o dem idiot golfers.

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Mark

Jan 13, 2017 at 2:50 am

Awesome score from a great young player. Such a great swing and chilled attitude as well. But please can the PGA Tour find some courses that actually stretch the players abilities?

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JG

Jan 12, 2017 at 11:04 pm

It’s exactly the same, if not better. Harder to make the birdies on the par 4s, than what it would be on the par 72s 2 extra par 5s (according to par averages)

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- Markallister
  
  Jan 13, 2017 at 5:44 am
  
  no. it is easier. clearly you do not understand how this works.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Bwall
    
    Jan 13, 2017 at 8:55 am
    
    I would say it’s harder. Two less chances to produce eagle on par 5’s.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - r2
      
      Jan 13, 2017 at 1:29 pm
      
      This is such a wrong way of looking at it. It’s all about looking at it relative to par (11 under, vs 13 under). You’re basically saying that 13 under is easier than 11 under by saying par 70 is harder to do it on.
      
      Original poster has the right idea, I just don’t agree with his dismissive attitude.
      
      Reply Report comment
      - Buck
        
        Jan 13, 2017 at 9:29 pm
        
        You can spin it any way you want, but the fact is it only took him 59 shots to get around the loop.
        
        Reply Report comment
  - Tom
    
    Jan 13, 2017 at 9:18 am
    
    the official rating for the course is 72/133 ad 500 yards and take away two storkes and ya get The Sony Open
    
    Reply Report comment
  - chopperdave
    
    Jan 13, 2017 at 9:19 am
    
    Yea, its much easier, that’s why so many people shoot 59s…
    
    Reply Report comment
Tom

Jan 12, 2017 at 10:05 pm

it’s all about slope rating.

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Frank

Jan 12, 2017 at 9:49 pm

Yeah but is he good at golf?

Reply Report comment
Barry

Jan 12, 2017 at 9:32 pm

Takes one to know one, lol

Reply Report comment
Barry

Jan 12, 2017 at 9:31 pm

59 with a bogey! The guy is on a roll, its fun to watch

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Jim Furyk

Jan 12, 2017 at 9:27 pm

Yawn.

Reply Report comment
Merkules

Jan 12, 2017 at 8:08 pm

The kid’s game is en fuego. Savor the flavor, it never lasts.

Reply Report comment
TheTaskForce

Jan 12, 2017 at 7:52 pm

What, you couldn’t shoot 58 like your new captain?

Reply Report comment
Tazz2293

Jan 12, 2017 at 7:51 pm

What a great kid.
2017 Starting off with a bang for the young man

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Opinion & Analysis

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Andrew Von Lossow

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