Justin Thomas loves Pebble Seaside, although he has not performed a event there because the 2019 U.S. Open.
The explanation behind that has been the PGA Tour’s schedule, not as a result of he dislikes the course. However because the AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am is a Signature Occasion in 2024, Thomas couldn’t skip it this time round.
And he believes he has a powerful likelihood at victory this week.
“I just like the structure. It’s a spot the place I do know I could make loads of birdies,” Thomas stated of Pebble Seaside Tuesday.
“I believe it performs to a power in my sport by way of distance management and with the ability to take spin off of the ball with brief irons into these very spinny, extreme greens. That’s one thing I take pleasure in doing.”
Pebble Seaside has the smallest greens out of any course on the PGA Tour. In addition they have extra undulations than most, creating issues for a lot of gamers yearly. This week’s tender situations will compound these points for the sphere, as Pebble’s poa annua greens can be even tricker to beat.
Thomas sees that as a bonus for him. His otherworldly brief sport from inside 100 yards ought to give him an edge this week.
“It’s clearly very situational on the way it performs by way of whether or not it’s agency or like it’s now. It performs extremely totally different in the course of the U.S. Open in June than it does for this event this time of 12 months,” Thomas stated of the situations.
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“So it performs fairly a bit simpler, shorter, it’s not as essential to hit it to the fats a part of the inexperienced. You may get away with extra when it’s this tender. However nonetheless, the greens are very, very small… they are going to be a bit bumpier, going to be tougher to make putts.”
Thomas missed the reduce on the 2019 U.S. Open, carding two rounds of 2-over 73 to complete at 4-over for the championship.
His solely different begin at Pebble Seaside got here on the 2014 AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am, the place he additionally missed the reduce. Thomas didn’t break 70 and completed at 2-over par.
Regardless of that, the two-time main champion arrives in Monterey filled with confidence after a disastrous 2023 season. He lately tied for third at The American Categorical, his finest end at an official PGA Tour occasion because the 2022 RBC Canadian Open.
“I‘m very shut. I believe, at this level, it’s simply beginning to win tournaments once more,” Thomas stated.
“I really feel like I’m very, very near doing that and beginning to do it usually once more. However I totally perceive that simply since you suppose that doesn’t imply you deserve it, or it’ll occur. I must hold placing myself in that place and getting in competition.”
Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By way of. You’ll want to try @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You’ll be able to comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as properly.
