Justin Thomas ‘excited’ for final shot to make FedExCup play-offs

LOS ANGELES – Justin Thomas finds himself in an extremely unfamiliar and unenviable position – on the outside looking in on the FedExCup play-offs.

The American has never missed the play-offs as a pro on the PGA Tour.

In fact, he has missed out on playing in the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta just once. And that was during his rookie season in 2013.

So, the 2017 FedExCup champion is playing in this week’s Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, North Carolina, for the first time since 2016 – his final shot at cracking the top 70 to advance to the Aug 10-13 St Jude Championship, which is the first round of the play-offs.

Thomas sits at No. 79 heading into Thursday’s first round.

According to GolfMagic, he needs to finish solo 18th – at worst – this week to make the play-offs.

“The reality is, you know, I need to play well this week for an opportunity to come out and make the play-offs,” he said.

“That’s the unfortunate but also realistic part of where I’m at right now.

“I’m excited. I think it’s an unbelievable opportunity.

“I’m just going to go out and play the best that I can and try to see if we can get in contention to try to win a golf tournament and see if we can get on a little run to end the season.”

Thomas, 30, has six missed cuts this season, including five in his past seven starts. He has 15 career titles, including a pair of PGA Championship victories.

“I’m obviously not playing as well as I have in the past, but I’m really not playing that poorly. I haven’t really gotten much out of my rounds,” he added.

“But this is a perfect – like this is golf... I’m not having a bad season, I just haven’t won anything, haven’t finished tournaments off how I want.

“It’s like that is the reality of golf, like it’s all on you.

“You’re not relying on any teammates to bail you out, to hinder you, it’s all on you.”

Thomas is not alone on the bubble this week.

Davis Thompson (No. 75), Shane Lowry (No. 76) and Justin Suh (No. 77) are just in front of him and also need good showings this week at Greensboro. Adam Scott is right behind in 81st.

As luck would have it, Thomas is paired with Lowry and Scott for the first two rounds – the threesome will go off on the back nine on Thursday at the Sedgefield Country Club.

Then there is 2014 FedExCup champion Billy Horschel, who needs a win at Sedgefield to leap into the play-offs from his spot at No. 116.

Meanwhile, Tom Kim will not defend his title while he nurses a Grade 1 tear in his right ankle.

The 21-year-old South Korean suffered the injury after stepping off his patio after the first round of the British Open.

Despite being hobbled, he carded rounds of 68, 68 and 67 to finish joint second for the tournament. Kim captured his maiden PGA Tour title at the Wyndham Championship in 2022 after finishing with a final-round 61.

“I am very gutted to not be able to defend my first PGA Tour win,” he said.

“I am still having a hard time with my ankle, so I am getting the treatment I need to heal completely.”

World No. 18 Kim lies 14th in the FedExCup standings. REUTERS