Hero World Challenge

Albany GC



    The Spoils of Victory

    After first missed cut in a year, Justin Thomas flexes like a boss with the Wanamaker Trophy

    May 28, 2022

    It’s said all good things must come to an end, and Justin Thomas was enjoying some “good things” in the 2021-22 PGA Tour season. Thomas hadn’t missed a cut in 21 straight events entering this week’s Charles Schwab Challenge, a streak dating back to the previous season and the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah. Needless to say, JT avenged that mishap quite nicely a week ago with his playoff victory at Southern Hills.

    And it looked like Thomas was on his way to extending the tour’s longest active made cut streak to 22 straight (insert your “he still has a long way to go to match Tiger Woods’ 142 straight” joke here) until a series of unfortunate mid-round events Friday at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth were his undoing. As our Alex Myers recounted Friday night, Thomas played Nos. 7-10 in six over par, including a rare triple bogey on No. 9 in which he needed five shots just to reach the putting surface at the short par 4. He posted a two-over 72, but after a one-over 71 on Thursday, that left him two shots off the cut line and heading home to Florida.

    Once there, however, Thomas could finally soak up his most recent accomplishment. And he did so with the ultimate social-media flex.

    Remember, this was his third straight week on the road, and the victory at Southern Hills was no doubt exhausting as he rallied from eight shots off the lead with 10 holes to play before winning a playoff over Will Zalatoris. Thomas could have asked for a pass at Colonial, but remained in the field even while likely physically and mentally fatigued. It didn’t end the way he wanted in Texas, but knowing you have the Wanamaker Trophy to snuggle up to back at home certain eases the pain.

    For the record, Jon Rahm is now the owner of the longest active made cut streak on tour at 11. And, yes, Rahm has a long way to go to match Tiger Woods’ 142 straight.