Justin Thomas has even surprised himself this week at The Players Championship.
Thomas has posted two rounds of 68 to trail the leader, Ludvig Aberg, by four strokes heading into the weekend at The Players Championship.
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The 32-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, had an absolute disaster last week at Bay Hill, shooting two 79s to finish dead last in the field.
What a turnaround it has been from Thomas this week at The Players Championship, though.
Thomas played alongside Scottie Scheffler at The Players during the first two rounds, and he upstaged the world number one.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
The 32-year-old hasn’t been anywhere near Scheffler’s level for four years now, but he has proven at Sawgrass that he is still one of the best golfers on the planet.
Justin Thomas’ honest admission after day two at The Players
The two-time major champion has performed exceptionally well at TPC Sawgrass this week.
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His entire game seems to be in very decent shape, and that’s backed up by the stats.
Thomas is ranked inside the top 25 in all five key statistical categories through two rounds of The Players.
However, he still has a lot of work to do, if he is to win this week for the second time at Sawgrass.
Thomas was asked by reporters whether he’s finding it more difficult mentally or physically since returning to action from his lengthy spell on the sidelines.
“Mental, for sure,“ Thomas exclaimed.
“I said that to Rev today on — what was it, kind of 13, 14. I just was like, ‘Man, I’m kind of starting to lose focus’.
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“I get spacey, and it’s one of those you’re over the ball and you’re somehow thinking about nothing. I’m not thinking about the shot I’m trying to hit, not thinking about the yardage I’m trying to hit it. It’s just, I get lost.
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
“I know it’s not the best thing to admit to, but it’s kind of the reality. So really just tried very hard to kind of take my breaks between shots, and then when it was our turn to hit, just get really honed in, focus on what I was trying to do, and then just rinse and repeat until I was doing.“
Concentrating to the maximum for five hours under intense pressure is never easy, but doing it after being away from the game for six months is almost impossible.
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It may take Thomas some time to rediscover his mental prowess.
Justin Thomas on the role his caddie plays when he’s struggling
After day two at The Players, Thomas was asked whether his caddie said anything in particular to him when he began to lose focus out on the golf course.
“Not necessarily,“ the American admitted.
“He did a great job yesterday and did a great job today, as well.
“Just focus on what we’re doing. I’m swinging — just kind of reiterating, I’m playing well, I’m swinging well, I’m doing all the right things. Just focus on what we’re doing.
“The biggest thing for me is commitment and feeling confident about the decision that I made, the club I’m hitting, whatever it is.
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“So I think that’s the biggest thing for him is just making sure that I feel that way, I guess, going into the shot.“
Thomas may not be fancied as one of the favourites heading into the weekend, mostly due to the sheer amount of time he has spent away from competitive golf.
However, we all know that he possesses the game and the mentality needed to win around TPC Sawgrass.
If he manages to maintain his focus throughout the final 36 holes, he should have a chance to win when coming down the stretch.