And also because there seems to be just a little Nick Saban in Justin Thomas.
Li’l Nick showed himself Tuesday when Thomas was asked about his experience at last year’s Tour Championship, as he nailed down the FedEx Cup playoff title but not the tournament itself. It was a split decision. Thomas didn’t birdie the final hole, and Xander Schauffele did to come up from the depths of the points standings to win the tournament.
Schauffele won the day. Thomas won the season. He won a coveted title based on his body of work over the long 2016-17 pull, and the $10 million bonus that came with it. But he didn’t win everything. And in classic Alabama head coach fashion, that perturbed him.
“That tee shot on 18,” he said, recounting a slightly errant ball on his last hole of the 2017 Tour Championship. “I thought I hit the fairway there, and I’m probably not going to make worse than birdie. Xander being one back as opposed to tied for the lead is a lot different. Yeah, it still bothers me.”
“Winning the FedEx Cup is a huge deal and a life-changer, but to have six wins in a season would have been pretty sweet,” said Thomas, who had to comfort himself with “only” five Tour victories last year, including his first major (PGA Championship) and a player-of-the-year award. “Hopefully we’ll get it in the future.”
In the brief 11-year history of this FedEx Cup playoff thing there have been no repeat winners. In fact, no FedEx Cup champion has ever returned to the Tour Championship in the top five in points – that exalted level where a tournament win guarantees a FedEx Cup title. Until Thomas (currently No. 5 in points).
Roll Titleist: Could there be a little Nick Saban in Justin Thomas?
Li’l Nick showed himself Tuesday when Thomas was asked about his experience at last year’s Tour Championship, as he nailed down the FedEx Cup playoff title but not the tournament itself. It was a split decision. Thomas didn’t birdie the final hole, and Xander Schauffele did to come up from the depths of the points standings to win the tournament.
Schauffele won the day. Thomas won the season. He won a coveted title based on his body of work over the long 2016-17 pull, and the $10 million bonus that came with it. But he didn’t win everything. And in classic Alabama head coach fashion, that perturbed him.
“That tee shot on 18,” he said, recounting a slightly errant ball on his last hole of the 2017 Tour Championship. “I thought I hit the fairway there, and I’m probably not going to make worse than birdie. Xander being one back as opposed to tied for the lead is a lot different. Yeah, it still bothers me.”
“Winning the FedEx Cup is a huge deal and a life-changer, but to have six wins in a season would have been pretty sweet,” said Thomas, who had to comfort himself with “only” five Tour victories last year, including his first major (PGA Championship) and a player-of-the-year award. “Hopefully we’ll get it in the future.”
In the brief 11-year history of this FedEx Cup playoff thing there have been no repeat winners. In fact, no FedEx Cup champion has ever returned to the Tour Championship in the top five in points – that exalted level where a tournament win guarantees a FedEx Cup title. Until Thomas (currently No. 5 in points).
Roll Titleist: Could there be a little Nick Saban in Justin Thomas?
