Justin Thomas Stymied, Chips In on the Green



 

Justin Thomas had a blessed Thursday at the CJ Cup @ Nine Bridges on Jeju Island off of the southern coast of South Korea. The reigning PGA Tour Player of the Year shot an opening-round 9-under par 63 to take a three-shot advantage into Friday.

The second round, however, wasn’t as kind to Thomas as the first was. On just his fifth hole of the day and already 2-over par for this round, Thomas looked like he couldn’t catch a break. Facing a knee-knocker for par, Thomas’ ball ended up directly behind a rather large scuff mark on the green.

As the Rule 16-1c currently states — although the tapping down of spike marks is up for reassessment — a player may not fix an irregularity on the green that is not a hole plug or ball mark. Playing the ball as it lies left Thomas with two options: he could putt through the scuff mark, or he could opt to try what he did. 

 

Although it wasn’t a result of another player’s ball, Thomas was definitely stymied a la this clip of Ben Hogan from the 1948 PGA Championship. 

Thomas ended the day at 2-over par, dropping him back to a 7-under par total. He enters the weekend two shots behind 36-hole leader Luke List. 

 

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