MEMPHIS, Tennessee (AP) – Justin Thomas won the FedEx St.Jude Invitational on Sunday to take the world’s top spot for the first time since June 2018.
Thomas faced protective champion Brooks Koepka in the final holes, sealing the World Golf Championship victory from 16 to 5. Thomas took the lead with his consecutive birdie moment, while Koepka missed the hole.
Koepka reached a 39-foot foot foot for birdie at number 17. But Koepka put his exit shot into the water along 18th Street on his way to the double bogey, allowing Thomas to finish a simple putt for what he finished for. A three-stroke victory.
Thomas closed with a 5-under 66 to finish in thirteen-under 267 and take the winner’s check for $10.5 million for his thirteenth PGA Tour title. At 27, he has become the third youngest player since 1960 to succeed in thirteen PGA Tour victories, only Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.
It was the fifth time Thomas had reunited to win, and he made his biggest comeback after starting day four shots, third-round leader Brendon Todd. Thomas has three wins this season, two since the start of the year.
The last time Thomas No. 1 spent 4 weeks in the most sensible ranking. It will upgrade Jon Rahm, who has become No. 1 after winning the Memorial two weeks ago.
Koepka will go to TPC Harding Park in San Francisco to protect her PGA Championship title. He finished with a 69 and was tied for the time being with Phil Mickelson (67), Daniel Berger (65) and Tom Lewis (66).
Thomas Sunday with Jim “Bones” Mackay in his sack game in the same organization with Mickelson for the first time since Mickelson broke away from tactics with his much younger brother. Thomas closed the hole with four birdies in the first nine and almost missed some other birdie chance at No. 8. His 20-foot player at No. 9 tied Todd at 12 below.
Todd, whose placement had taken him through the first 3 rounds, 3 bogey putts from 23 feet on par 3 eighth, leaving Thomas in the most sensible standings.
Thomas put his moment on par four 12 in a bunker on the green side near the back edge and cut it rough. He came here from a clumsy position to save the ghost.
That created a tie at eleven minus five with Koepka, Berger, Lewis and Todd.
Koepka took the lead in the 13th par 4. He hit his from 133 yards 10 feet from the pin, and Koepka sank the putt so that his third birdie from the circular moved to 12 feet below.
After hitting his starting shot at 321 yards in the rough 51 yards of the gap at No. 15, Thomas hit 6 feet for a birdie, tying Koepka to 12 cents with 3 to play. Thomas discovered the right of the carriage’s trajectory from 16 to 5, then hit his third from the left at 65 yards at 3 feet for his consecutive birdie moment.
Koepka, in the Thomas organization, tried to respond 42 meters from the gap. His shot landed near the hole to continue rolling towards the back of the green. Koepka finished two 8-foot shots per bogey.
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