Justin Thomas’ win at the CJ Cup in South Korea saw him rise to a career-best third in the world to make the top three an all-American affair, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
Thomas was crowned champion of the PGA Tour’s newest event after emerging victorious in a playoff against Australian Marc Leishman, himself moving to a career-high 12th in the latest rankings.
The 24-year-old set up a playoff after he two-putted for birdie on the 72nd hole, following a sweetly struck fairway wood into the breeze which landed safely on the front section of the green. And when he repeated the same shot from the middle of the fairway on the second playoff hole, he once again two-putted to lift his seventh tour title.
Chalk @JustinThomas34 up for another ? #CJCUP pic.twitter.com/rXie96W2BP
— Compleat Golfer (@CompleatGolfer) October 22, 2017
Thomas is now third in the world after moving past Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, behind Dustin Johnson and Jordan Spieth, as he makes it the first time in seven years since the top three spots (then Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker) have been occupied by players from the US.
The Louisville-native is now taking a break after admitting he has ‘officially nothing left in the tank’ after nine competitions in 11 weeks. Not surprising, in a year that brought him two wins in a row in Hawaii, including a 59, tying the lowest score in relation to par in a Major at the US Open, his first Major at the PGA Championship, the FedExCup, a starring role in the the Presidents Cup demolition of the Internationals and then the Player of the Year title.
Sergio Garcia moved back into the top 10 after his win at the Valderrama Masters on Sunday – his sixth on home soil. It was a low-key event before the end of the season ramps up with just two South Africans pegging it up. Zander Lombard finished in a share of 36th place with Justin Walters 18 places behind his countryman.
Top 10 South African rankings:
Louis Oosthuizen – 23
Charl Schwartzel – 31
Branden Grace – 45
Dylan Fritelli – 100
George Coetzee – 121
Richard Sterne – 122
Brandon Stone– 126
Dean Burmester – 151
Jaco Van Zyl – 186
Erik Van Rooyen – 196
Photo: Twitter
