Thomas sets records and moves closer to winning
HONOLULU (AP) — Justin Thomas put his name in the PGA Tour record book two days in a row.
The idea now is to get his name on the trophy.
And with each record, that becomes a little easier at the Sony Open.
Thomas set the course record Thursday at Waialae Country Club with his 59, only the eighth sub-60 round in PGA Tour history. Even then, the 23-year-old from Kentucky was cognizant that the tournament still had three rounds remaining, and he only had a three-shot lead.
He followed that with another burst of birdies around the turn and another eagle on his final hole, punching a 7-iron out of the light rough to run the ball up between two bunkers and onto the green about 8 feet below the cup. He made the eagle putt for a 64, setting the 36-hole scoring record on the PGA Tour at 123.
And now he has a five-shot lead.
“He’s not stopping, as we can see,” said Jordan Spieth, who watched him for two rounds.
Thomas also is not looking behind.
Following a great round with another one is not easy, and the task becomes even tougher when that great round is a 59.
“I didn’t know how I was going to feel,” Thomas said. “I didn’t feel too much today. I just felt like it was another round of golf and I need to try to build on my lead and see how low I could go today.”
He didn’t realize he had set the 36-hole record until the scoring official told him as Thomas was signing his card. He left Friday evening not even aware of another record he had set — best round after a 59.
Jim Furyk (with his record 58), David Duval and Stuart Appleby each hit golf’s magic number in the…
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