What is up with Justin Thomas aka JT?

[PearSorbet17]

His downward trajectory seems to be accelerating. His comments after today’s Second Round at LACC were brutally honest; chasing speed, distance and in his own words, “to the detriment of his swing.” 

 

He sounds officially lost and man enough to admit it. That’s a good place to start. I was going to post some stats but let’s start here. 
 

Where does he go from here?  
 

Can he get out of it? 
 

Do you see big changes coming; coach, caddy, swing back to what it was or something different? 

 

This is Golf WRX after all...is Justin Thomas aka JT  done? 

[mocokid]

A golfwrx +2 could easily beat him, playing blades and persimmon, no less. 

[LimaSierra]

Was he ever that good to begin with? 

15 wins is nice but his 2 majors one of them he kinda backdoored into. 
 

His run reminds me of Spieth. 1-2 year hot streak where they play above themselves. Not someone who is week to week dominant 

[LBB]

Will he ever make a cut again on the PGAT?

[blades_are_life]

4 minutes ago, mocokid said:

A golfwrx +2 could easily beat him, playing blades and persimmon, no less. 

They would need a modern high MOI putter, however.

[mosesgolf]

He won a major last year.  Going through a rough patch.  We all go through it.  He'll be fine.

[Dave230]

18 minutes ago, LimaSierra said:

Was he ever that good to begin with? 

15 wins is nice but his 2 majors one of them he kinda backdoored into. 
 

His run reminds me of Spieth. 1-2 year hot streak where they play above themselves. Not someone who is week to week dominant 

The 15 wins part should have answered your question. That's 15 wins and 2 majors by age 29. How many players in history have done that? Very few. He's only recently turned 30. Lots of time on his side.

 

28 minutes ago, PearSorbet17 said:

 

His downward trajectory seems to be accelerating. His comments after today’s Second Round at LACC were brutally honest; chasing speed, distance and in his own words, “to the detriment of his swing.” 

 

He sounds officially lost and man enough to admit it. That’s a good place to start. I was going to post some stats but let’s start here. 
 

Where does he go from here?  
 

Can he get out of it? 
 

Do you see big changes coming; coach, caddy, swing back to what it was or something different? 

 

This is Golf WRX after all...is Justin Thomas aka JT  done? 

But seriously, why was he chasing distance? Some of these really need to get out of their own heads. He's been way above average driving distance his whole career. Plenty long. If I was assessing a part of his game at his peak, it certainly wouldn't be driving distance that was the issue, it would be driving accuracy actually - a slight tendency to throw in one or two awful swings a round off the tee.

[Pepperturbo]

24 minutes ago, PearSorbet17 said:

brutally honest; chasing speed, distance and in his own words, “to the detriment of his swing.” 

Sounds like most of the Golfwrx people.

 

What so many people on here and elsewhere are NOT aware of, professionals in any sport or job go through good and not so good changes, ups and downs in their jobs.  It's natural when someone stays in one job for years and years.

 

I have been working since the 70s, and can attest to ups and downs.  Discipline or self-control is sometimes out of sync with a person's maturity, causing frustration, as a result the game falls off.  JT is no different from others that been at the game for many years.   JT is still young, but he probably feels very mature at the game, and thinks he's been playing for a long time, yet it's not all that long when it comes to lifelong career clock. 

 

NO, JT is NOT done.  His home life and golf skills are evolving, only sometimes those aspects are not in sync with where his head is at; that takes time.

[kmbean]

He got married.

[BombinJim]

Perhaps he’s injured?

[LimaSierra]

38 minutes ago, Dave230 said:

The 15 wins part should have answered your question. That's 15 wins and 2 majors by age 29. How many players in history have done that? Very few. He's only recently turned 30. Lots of time on his side.

 

But seriously, why was he chasing distance? Some of these really need to get out of their own heads. He's been way above average driving distance his whole career. Plenty long. If I was assessing a part of his game at his peak, it certainly wouldn't be driving distance that was the issue, it would be driving accuracy actually - a slight tendency to throw in one or two awful swings a round off the tee.

Your right i was too harsh. I should have said he lacked the consistency that some really top guys have. JT is more hot and cold

[bladehunter]

Chasing speed is bad for any good swing.  He now knows that.  He can do just like Rory and back up to a more controlled move and win again. 

[00steven]

He’ll have a year or two of poor play like Brooks or Spieth had. You could say Colin is having a slump too.

[jimecherry]

1 hour ago, LimaSierra said:

Was he ever that good to begin with? 

15 wins is nice but his 2 majors one of them he kinda backdoored into. 
 

His run reminds me of Spieth. 1-2 year hot streak where they play above themselves. Not someone who is week to week dominant 

He was week to week dominant key word being was. 

[phizzy30]

Every elite PGA Tour player goes through slumps.  JT is no exception.  Rickie went a few years struggling really bad and he's done well for himself this season and is leading the US Open.  JT will figure things out eventually and bounce back.  The great ones always do.   

Edited June 16, 2023 by phizzy30

[Valtiel]

3 hours ago, LimaSierra said:

Was he ever that good to begin with? 

15 wins is nice but his 2 majors one of them he kinda backdoored into. 

He was statistically in the elite from 2017-2020 and his downturn has moved him from elite to solidly above average. I recommend checking out datagolf.com and looking at their skill profiles because I find that superficial stuff like amount of TV coverage, highlights, news stories, and a bias towards recent form skews our perception of where someone actually stands. That includes me, I genuinely felt like JT dropped off the map outside of his major win last year, but in reality it's just been a mixture of a slight but noticeable downturn in stats and a more noticeable decrease in highlights/TV coverage. 

[shoot4par]

here we go again.

[iBanesto]

3 hours ago, mosesgolf said:

He won a major last year.  Going through a rough patch.  We all go through it.  He'll be fine.

 

I've definitely been through it.

 

Never easy after winning my major too.

 

[Fairways_and_Greens]

The Shotgun Start indicated he's been playing hurt for some time.

[ivygynonc]

I personally love the dude.  He is a fun loving golfer per se.  However, only one guy can have that steep of a swing and be long lasting and it is the hated Philly Mickey....  Lots of long flexibility in phil's getty up.  If you are gonna swing steep, you best be really long and flexible. 

 

but one poor year doesn't define JT.  yet I agree, it has not been a trajectory I would say is stardom like...  

 

Wish him the best.  Phil is fantastic as was Slamming Sammy with his flexibility.  He may need to stop the short power move and try for the longevity flexible move others have mastered to keep relevant. 

 

Heck if I know tho.  I would take his career and retire and never look back

[Avidswampthing66]

15 hours ago, LimaSierra said:

Was he ever that good to begin with? 

15 wins is nice but his 2 majors one of them he kinda backdoored into. 
 

His run reminds me of Spieth. 1-2 year hot streak where they play above themselves. Not someone who is week to week dominant 

His Players win where he absolutely stunted the field was probably flukey too... 🤔 

 

Jt has greatness in him, but I agree it's not consistent.  I don't think he plays above himself.  IMO at times he plays up to his full potential.  

Edited June 17, 2023 by Avidswampthing66

[jdl]

JT Poston gonna be known as "the real JT" now.

[jimecherry]

1 hour ago, Fairways_and_Greens said:

The Shotgun Start indicated he's been playing hurt for some time.

wrist injury?

[redfirebird08]

"Yeah, it's definitely the lowest I've felt," Thomas said Friday. "It's pretty humiliating and embarrassing to shoot scores like that...at a golf course I really, really liked. I thought it was set up very well."

 

"It's a funny game, man," Thomas said. "You know, it can leave you speechless, both in good and bad, and right now it's unfortunately bad. But, you know, it is what it is. Once I'm able to kind of reflect and figure out what I can learn and get better from, you know, it'll end up good. But it sucks right now."

[wildcatden]

He should be kicked off the Tour for using such an ugly putter.

 

[grm24]

Waiting for the obligatory silly thread by the OP asking if JT will ever make a cut again on the PGA Tour like he did with Fowler. 🤣

[Chunkitgood]

6 hours ago, LimaSierra said:

Was he ever that good to begin with? 

15 wins is nice but his 2 majors one of them he kinda backdoored into. 
 

His run reminds me of Spieth. 1-2 year hot streak where they play above themselves. Not someone who is week to week dominant 

Now that’s funny.

 

15 wins, a couple of majors, not really that good.  Sure.

 

Wait, forgot what forum this is.

 

Wait some more, that’s bizarre even for this forum.

[grm24]

13 minutes ago, Chunkitgood said:

Now that’s funny.

 

15 wins, a couple of majors, not really that good.  Sure.

 

Wait, forgot what forum this is.

 

Wait some more, that’s bizarre even for this forum.

Not really. I mean during the PGA Championship some other WRX genius referred to JT as a "mid-carder". Had to post this in reply to that bizarre statement.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 17, 2023 by grm24

[SunDevil009]

2 hours ago, wildcatden said:

He should be kicked off the Tour for using such an ugly putter.

 

Have you seen the abomination that Rickie Fowler and Wyndham Clark have been draining putts with the last 2 days? Whatever works man 🤣

[PearSorbet17]

Justin Thomas aka JT isn’t making the Ryder Cup team at this rate.