Justin Thomas: Thomas Clinches 16th PGA Tour champion; birdie and drought end at RBC Legacy
Thomas, a two-time major champion, finally broke the game with a dramatic birdie on the first playoff hole of Harbour Town Golf Links, beating the tenacious Andrew Novak in a fascinating game.
Thomas celebrated his 16th PGA Tour title, but the story is just as compelling, and Novak once again finds himself painful with his first victory.
Despite keeping nerves for most of the final round and matching Thomas’ 17-267, the eight-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole would block the victory.
One Novak admitted: “I just missed the readings there.” Showing his maturity beyond his pursuit of the first championship.
Despite the disappointment, the young contender acknowledges the value of his strong results this season as he continues to beat the Victory Gate. The usually unanimous star faces a frustrating spell since his PGA title victory in 2022. “It’s hard to win. It’s really hard,” he declared. “I’ve tried hard, stay patient and stay positive.”
Before the playoff hero, Wuji, who had three stable par blocks in the final round, showed a firm determination to restore his career.
The show unfolded throughout the final round, with Thomas holding the lead earlier in the tournament and regaining the lead with a lengthy birdie putt.
Novak responded immediately as his birdie on the 16th and set a nervous performance. Thomas’ playoff experience – a huge five-game victory in seven games – turned out to be decisive.
Behind the leading duo, a nervous ranking list saw Daniel Berger, Brian Harman, Mavericks McNee and Canadian McKenzie Hughes all tied for third place with the Under-14. Tommy Fleetwood of England is in the top seven.
Meanwhile, defending champion and world number one Scottie Scheffler saw his hopes shattered by the expensive Double Cypress on the 15th and ended with an eighth-place draw.
Despite his outstanding performance this year, Schaffler is still seeking his first 2025 victory. Third-round leader Si Woo Kim also staggered, with the final round 74 hitting Scheffler and Russell Henley, ranked eighth.
While Thomas celebrated the long-awaited victory, the legacy of RBC also highlights the emergence of competitors such as Andrew Novak.
