Last hole of the day. The 18th at Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. Japan. Second round of the ZOZO Championship. Justin Thomas has delivered a magnificent drive, down the fairway, about 280 metres. He can hit an iron to the green. The tournament isn’t being decided, far from it, but he does need the eagle to get into the featured group for the third round, the spotlight where the Kentucky player aspires to be week after week and where he’s been missed lately.
His second shot is outstanding. The ball leaves the club imperially and Thomas doesn’t blink, doesn’t raise an eyebrow, doesn’t move a muscle. He likes what he sees. It was a trademark swing, one of those that was always a staple in his golf and hasn’t been seen as often as he would have liked in the last year and a half. He narrowly misses an albatross. Eagle secured. He’s in the featured group. With the last shot of the day. All or nothing. When there’s no more. The essence of Thomas.
220 yards ➡️ 3 feet@JustinThomas34 closes with an impressive eagle to move 2 back of the lead @ZOZOCHAMP. pic.twitter.com/HR6UlEv6zN
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 25, 2024
He’s positioned at -10 after 36 holes, tied for second place with Taylor Moore (-10) and two shots behind Colombian Nico Echavarría (-12), the solo leader. It so happens that Moore and Echavarría shared a college team in Arkansas. They were also involved in a controversial incident. They were accused of voyeurism back in those youthful days, specifically of photographing a naked girl while she slept at Moore’s house after a night out. Eventually, it was proven that the Colombian was not involved and Moore was also cleared of charges.
Thomas has completed 36 holes with a solitary bogey. His play from the tee isn’t the finest, but he’s by far the best in the tournament in approach shots. Those sharp irons are back, burning flags. He’s also putting with extraordinary consistency. He should be the favourite to win at this point, although the question remains whether such a long drought will take its toll over the weekend.
In fourth position, three shots behind Echavarría, a virtuoso with long irons, are Eric Cole (-9), another great player of approach shots, and Seamus Power (-9), who delivered a prodigious round of 62 shots today.
This Friday, in general, has been a good day for the tournament’s top players. Besides Thomas, Rickie Fowler (-8) shot 64 and got into the fight for victory. Xander Schauffele (-2) also responded with greatness, with a scorecard of 65, Max Homa (-1), who shot 66, and Collin Morikawa (-4), who hasn’t said his last word in the fight for the win with a round of 67 today.
Who hasn’t quite found his comfort is Hideki Matsuyama (+2). The local idol played over par again, very uncomfortable in all aspects of the game, to the point where he benched the driver, not using it on some tees clearly meant for that club. He has work to do to find the best sensations.
