Thomas Birdies 11 Times, Shoots 61 to Lead Harbour Town

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    On a sunny day at Harbour Town, Justin Thomas showcased an exceptional performance at the RBC Heritage, carding an impressive 10-under 61 with 11 birdies, matching the course record. The standout shot was an 8-iron that nestled just 5 feet from the pin, although Thomas surprisingly missed that birdie opportunity. Despite this, his overall play was stellar, benefiting from the day’s calm weather and near-perfect course conditions.

    The competition saw defending champion Scottie Scheffler, fresh from tying for fourth at the Masters, shooting a stress-free 64. Although the score appeared almost effortless, Scheffler emphasized the sport’s challenges, humorously remarking that golf is never easy. He skillfully salvaged par on two occasions where his positioning faltered, while otherwise putting for birdie or better on the majority of holes. Despite the strong performance, Thomas’s record-tying round cast a long shadow over the leaderboard.

    Russell Henley, winner at Bay Hill, matched Scheffler’s 64, while Wyndham Clark also made a strong showing with a 65. Among those shooting 66 were past Hilton Head champion Matt Fitzpatrick and Gary Woodland, who is on the comeback trail following brain surgery. Overall, the day was favorable for scoring, with fifty of the seventy-two competitors finishing under par, bringing the average score down to 69.2.

    Scheffler noted the contrast between his rounds last week at the Masters and his current performance, attributing the reduced stress to optimal positioning without resorting to scrambling for pars. “It was a stress-free day,” he commented, pleased with the seamless round.

    Justin Thomas, currently without a win since his 2022 PGA Championship title, is ranked eighth globally thanks to his recent form. Although the Masters proved underwhelming, Thomas’s diligent preparation at Hilton Head paid dividends. His arsenal of birdies included six from within ten feet and three from approximately thirty-five feet, culminating with a record-challenging putt on the 17th, though a missed birdie on the final hole left him shy of setting a new course benchmark.

    Thomas expressed satisfaction with his performance and preparation, noting, “I just didn’t play well last week, but I put in strong work leading up to today, and it showed.” As the afternoon breeze began to stir, other notable players like Justin Rose rallied for a 67, finishing alongside Jordan Spieth, Patrick Cantlay, and Tommy Fleetwood.

    Deciding not to participate in this year’s event was Masters champion Rory McIlroy, who opted out before the Augusta tournament, believing Harbour Town’s design didn’t complement his style. Thomas, however, relished the challenge, appreciating the course’s classic design and wishing for more like it. “It’s got everything I want,” he enthused about the venue.

    Beginning the week with near-perfect results, Thomas savored the conditions and his achievement, despite the narrow miss on the last putt that prevented him from setting a new record.