Page 24 - Golf Champion - August 2020

[PGA TOUR]

THOMAS OUTLASTS KOEPKA TO
TAKE HOME WGC-FEDEX ST. JUDE

INVITATIONAL

저스틴 토마스 ,브룩스 캡카 제치고 WGC
페덱스 세인트 주드 인비테이셔널 우승

EMPHIS, Tenn.(Photo PGA Tour) – Losses
are often learning experiences, and that was
Mthe case for Justin Thomas at the World Golf
Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational. Losing a
three-stroke lead three weeks ago helped him make an
unprecedented comeback at TPC Southwind. Thomas
now has 13 PGA TOUR victories, but he won this latest
one in a way that he never had. onships win, as well.
He started Sunday in fifth place. Never before has he The margin of victory implies an easy victory, but it
won after starting the final round so low on the lead- was anything but. At one point on the back nine, there
erboard. He also trailed by four, matching the largest were five players tied for the lead. A resurgent Koepka,
final-round deficit he’s overcome on the PGA TOUR. who seems to have regained the form that’s netted him
The victory kept him on an elite pace. Since 1960, only four majors, put pressure on Thomas until the final
Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods have reached 13 wins hole.
at a younger age. Thomas is 27 years, 3 months and 4 Thomas parred those two holes before hitting a poor
days old. Thomas shot 13-under 267 (66-70-66-65) for tee shot on the 15th, a short par-4 with a creek that
four rounds at TPC Southwind, good for a three-shot runs down the left side and in front of the green. His
victory over Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Daniel ball was headed toward the water, but it hit the cart
Berger and Tom Lewis. Thomas got into position with path and bounced safely over the penalty area. Good
a stellar 31 on the front nine. He missed just one green breaks aren’t worth much if you don’t convert, though,
(he hit the fringe) and had birdie putts within 25 feet and Thomas did by knocking his 51-yard wedge shot
on all nine holes. He bogeyed the 12th hole but birdies to 6 feet.
on 15 and 16, the former made possible by a fortuitous He birdied the next hole with another nifty wedge that
bounce, were the difference. Thomas finished first carried a bunker before checking up and stopping 3
in Strokes Gained: Tee-to-Green, second in Strokes feet from the hole.
Gained: Approach-the-Green and second in proximity Thomas and Koepka, the past two winners of this
to the hole. event, had separated themselves from the field at that
This was Thomas’ third win of the season, and first point, but Thomas appeared to have the tournament in
since the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January. hand when Koepka’s own pitch to the 16th rolled over
He increased his lead in the FedExCup to more than the green. The bogey gave Thomas a two-shot lead.
700 points and retook the top spot in the Official World Koepka has a knack for summoning his best golf in
Golf Ranking. This was his second World Golf Champi- crucial moments, and he did that again Sunday, holing

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