Players’ Championship: Justin Thomas returns with controversy after ‘easy’ third round | Golf News

Justin Thomas is an inch away from an albatross on his way to the third round of 64 at the Players Championship; world No 3 back in with access to the first PGA Tour of the season

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Justin Thomas left himself a tapping eagle after a stunning look into the par-five 16 during the third round of The Players

Justin Thomas is delighted to be challenged for the Mermaid Players Championship title after pulling back with controversy with TPC Sawgrass’ s stunning third round.

The No. 3 world entered the weekend seven strokes off the distance after 71s back-to-back over the first two days, just to jump up on the board with a 64-day round today Saturday.

Thomas combined a stunning eagle and seven birdies with a single bogey to set the clubhouse target short on the third day with a low score, bolstering his hopes for a first win in the PGA Tour season.

Justin Thomas ’last win came at the WGC Fed-Ex St Jude Invitational show in July

“I wish every turn was so easy,” said Thomas. “I hit the ball beautifully, I drove it well, I hit a couple taking pictures there at the end against nine.” but the good part is that I knew why they were happening.

“I knew what the swing fault was, what the physical error was, so I felt like I was kicking back from that well. Hit some really cool pictures I know I have to be patient out here because you can do a lot of birdies and a hit driver is a big help.

The players: R3 as it happened

Revive the best action from a third round low score at the Players Championship.

“I’d say it was easier yesterday than it was today, but I mean, this course is like that. As long as you hit the ball on the way, it’s not very long, you can eagle all par-five, you got her hole short and you can eagle this weekend at No. 12.

“You can have subtle stuff happening out here and you can, of course, shoot a low number. I knew going in on the weekend and I know that every time I see it out here.I think that’s probably why I played well, as I know just be patient because you don’t know never when running comes. “

Playing alongside Louis Oosthuizen, Thomas began his dream by tapping a 20-footer at the first and going up and down from a green bunker to catch a glimpse at the next.

Thomas rolled in a 15-footer at the third and shot his way at the next five feet for a straight birdie fourth, before firing off a bogey at the fifth by scoring in from the t. -seven green.

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Justin Thomas reflects on jumping up on the Players Championship board with a third-round 64 at TPC Sawgrass

The former world followed No. 1 birdie tap-in at the tenth with a two-putt win at par-five next, just to miss out on another one at the 12th drive after three puts for a par from off the green.

Thomas went an inch away from holing his second look into the par-five 16, setting up a kicking eagle to go eight under for the round and leaving him to need a birdie-birdie finish until the first 62 in the history of posting the Players Championship, he previously closed his tour with two pars to set the clubhouse target.

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Justin Thomas continued his hot start to his third round by slicing in from off the green seventh

“I told myself I thought 10 under was a good chance of winning the competition going into this weekend, thinking there would be a bit more wind today,” he said. Thomas.

“It’s getting harder. It’s getting a little firmer. The greens are still very soft, but you know they’re going to set harder on Sunday. You know where the pins and greens going to get a little more baked.

“It’s going to be a little windier, and it’s the players’ Sunday. It’s a really big event and there are going to be nerves. I knew today was important, but no. I had a number in mind. “

Who will win the Player Competition? Watch the final live on Sunday from 12.45pm with Named Groups via the red button, ahead of full coverage from 1.30pm on Sky Sports The Players.