Red-hot Justin Thomas began and ended with eagles to fire a sizzling 11-under 59 and seize a three-stroke lead in the opening round of the Sony Open in Hawaii on Thursday.
The long-hitting American took advantage of ideal scoring conditions at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu as he became the seventh, and youngest, player to break 60 on the PGA Tour after he also racked up eight birdies and a lone bogey.
Thomas could have gone even lower as he narrowly missed birdie putts on the fifth and seventh holes, but he closed in style at the par-five ninth, where he hit a five-iron from a fairway bunker to 15 feet and coolly sank the eagle putt.
“It means a lot,” the 23-year-old, who is seeking a third PGA Tour win in his last four starts, told the Golf Channel after forging three shots ahead of fellow American Hudson Swafford and four clear of South African Rory Sabbatini. “Any time you’re in history, in any sport or whatever you’re doing, it’s a good thing. We all know it’s a magical number in golf.”
Thomas, who clinched his third career victory on the PGA Tour at the SBS Tournament of Champions on Sunday, said he first had thoughts of shooting a possible 59 while playing his ninth hole of the day.
“It honestly entered my brain on 18th fairway when I had eight-iron in and I was like: ‘You’d think I’m going to make birdie here and turn at six-[under],” he said of his outward half of six-under 29. “As well as I was driving it, I can go shoot six or seven-[under] on this side and really, really post some history, but the two best putts I probably hit today didn’t even go in, on five and seven. We [playing competitors Jordan Spieth and Daniel Berger] were talking about that and it was crazy how they didn’t go in. Just enough went in, though, and that’s all that matters.”
Double major champion Spieth, like Berger, opened with a 65, but he was more than happy to play second fiddle to his good friend.
“I’m just really, really happy for J.T. right now,” said Spieth, who roared with delight after Thomas sank his eagle on the final hole.
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Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter is being criminally investigated by the IRS, and the attorney for his alleged bookmaker said Thursday that the ex-Los Angeles Dodgers employee placed bets on international soccer — but not baseball. The IRS confirmed Thursday that interpreter Ippei Mizuhara and Mathew Bowyer, the alleged illegal bookmaker, are under criminal investigation through the agency’s Los Angeles Field Office. IRS Criminal Investigation spokesperson Scott Villiard said he could not provide additional details. Mizuhara, 39, was fired by the Dodgers on Wednesday following reports from the Los Angeles Times and ESPN about his alleged ties to an illegal bookmaker and debts well
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