A hometown boost can come in many forms. Louisville native Justin Thomas should remember this as he seeks his first win since the 2022 PGA Championship.
Thomas aims to win it all. He shot 2-under-par 69 in the first round at Valhalla Golf Club on Thursday. If Xander Schauffele had not shot a course record 62, Thomas would not feel so far behind, tied for 32nd place.
“I wasn’t paying attention to the leaderboards, but when I saw my position, I felt better about how I was playing compared to the field,” Thomas said it.
Anything can happen between now and Sunday, especially with rain in the forecast, making it hard to predict its impact on his standing.
The best thing for Thomas is that he got his nerves out of the way. With so much fan support, his focus was split between his surroundings and his swing, which is rare for him.
“Honestly, I have never had this many people rooting for me before, so it’s a great feeling,” Thomas also said.
No matter where Thomas finishes, he can still inspire others. Some elementary school-aged kids watching their first major golf championship might be inspired by seeing the St. Xavier High School graduate play.
Thomas was just 7 when his dad took him to Valhalla to see Tiger Woods outlast Bob May in 2000, sparking his dream of becoming a professional golfer.
Now, Woods is a competitor rather than an idol, and both are trying to gain traction at Valhalla.