Page 25 - Golf Champion - August 2020

a 40-foot birdie putt from the fringe on 17 to pull back
within a shot.
Thomas pushed his drive and approach well right on
the 18th hole to ensure he missed the water. A bogey
seemed possible, but Koepka drove into the water
while Thomas was saving par with a chip he described
as “pretty sick.”
This was just Thomas’ second win when trailing by
more than two shots entering the final round. He’s
held the 54-hole lead in eight of his 13 victories.
He also trailed by four entering the final round of the
2016 CIMB Classic, his second win on TOUR.
“I remember that day kind of being just at ease and just
not worried about Anirban (Lahiri, the 54-hole leader)
and other guys that were ahead of me,” Thomas said.
“I was just strictly trying to make as many birdies as I
could because I can't control what everybody else does.
“And that's what I tried to do today.”
Three weeks ago, he paid the price for letting his mind
wander. He had a three-shot lead with three holes re-
maining at the Workday Charity Open, but bogeyed
two of the final three holes and lost to Collin Morikawa

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