OAKMONT, Pa. — Final week, a thought popped into Justin Thomas‘ head. He knew it was far-fetched, perhaps even loopy, however on Monday on the U.S. Open, he had no bother admitting that it had crossed his thoughts: What would he need to do to catch world no. 1 Scottie Scheffler?
“I am certain some individuals will giggle,” Thomas mentioned, prefacing his comment. “However [I thought] can I catch him this 12 months?”
At first look, Thomas is nearer than most. The 2-time main winner has jumped again as much as no. 5 within the official world golf rankings this season. However the hole between Scheffler and even world no. 2 Rory McIlroy is so massive (239 factors, to be actual) that even essentially the most aggressive golfers on the planet may be sincere about the place they stand.
“Possibly Scottie does not play or one thing,” Thomas, who is almost 500 factors behind Scheffler within the rankings, mentioned with a smile. “You’ll be able to’t actually catch that if he retains doing what he is doing.”
Such is life with Scheffler on high of the golf world.
Regardless of a sluggish begin to his 2025 season, Scheffler has kicked his recreation into excessive gear over the previous two and a half months. For the reason that finish of March, Scheffler’s worst end is a tie for eighth on the RBC Heritage, which Thomas received. Scheffler has six top-5 finishes, has received 3 times in his final 4 begins — together with finally month’s PGA Championship — and is the prohibitive favourite this week at Oakmont.
“It is easy. Each single facet of his recreation is unbelievable,” Thomas mentioned. “I believe his psychological recreation is healthier than anyone out right here. To have the ability to play with these expectations and to remain current as usually as he has to me is perhaps extra spectacular than even the golf he is taking part in. He simply does not make any errors and virtually form of lets himself be in competition versus forces himself in competition.”
It is that final half that Thomas himself is attempting to work on. He admitted that in latest tournaments he is allowed himself to be in competition throughout the first two rounds earlier than attempting to drive it on the weekend. Thomas has six top-10 finishes this 12 months, together with a win, however he completed T-36 on the Masters and missed the reduce on the PGA Championship. Actually, since 2013, Thomas has missed six of 10 cuts at majors.
What Scheffler has seemingly perfected is what Thomas is aware of he must do to even start enthusiastic about shrinking the hole between them. The tantalizing half is that the 32-year-old Thomas has been there earlier than — twice. In 2018, he was no. 1 for 4 weeks, and he returned to the highest spot in 2020 for 5 weeks. The most important impediment now, nevertheless, is not simply himself or the state of his recreation, however fairly the participant who has develop into golf’s normal.
“It is nonetheless on the forefront of my thoughts, and it is one thing that I am working towards,” Thomas mentioned. “I clearly cannot do something about what [Scheffler] is doing, and he does not appear to be displaying any indicators of slowing down or desirous to. Simply attempt to win some tournaments, and hopefully get shut sooner fairly than later.”
