Justin Thomas came one par away from breaking the course record at TPC Sawgrass on Friday at The Players Championship — but a water ball on the final hole led to a bogey and the two-time major champion settled for a 10-under-par 62 and a share of the mark.
Tom Hoge shot the first-ever 62 at Sawgrass in the third round of the 2023 Players.
Thomas, who was in danger of missing the cut following an opening 78, birdied 11 of his first 17 holes Friday without a bogey. He made a dramatic, 18 1/2-foot birdie putt at the Stadium Course’s famed par-3 17th hole that slowly broke from right to left.
But after hitting his tee shot at No. 18 into the right-side rough, Thomas’ recovery attempt rolled off the fairway and into the water.
The ensuing penalty stroke made it nearly impossible for him to make the par save necessary to break the course record, but Thomas gave it his all, sticking his pitch shot inside 2 feet to set up a tap-in.
Thomas also set the course record with 11 birdies in a single round, and he tied the tournament record for biggest improvement from round to round by beating his Thursday round by 16 strokes.
Thomas, who hasn’t won on the PGA Tour since his come-from-behind victory at the 2022 PGA Championship, made the turn Friday in 5-under 31 and then sank four consecutive birdies at Nos. 11-14 to put the record in reach.
–Field Level Media
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