Justin Thomas Chases Course Record at The Players Championship

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida — The second round of The Players Championship is in full swing at TPC Sawgrass, where Justin Thomas is making headlines after notching his tenth birdie of the day and putting the course record on notice as he chases a stunning comeback following a rough first round.

After finishing the first round with a disappointing 6-over 78, Thomas rebounded with a stellar performance, shooting 4-under through 14 holes in Round 2. “I just focused on hitting fairways and staying patient,” said Thomas. “You know, sometimes it just clicks, and this was definitely one of those days.”

Thomas’s birdies continued to accumulate, bringing him to the brink of breaking the course record of 62 set by Tom Hoge two years ago. If he finishes 1-under par over his remaining four holes, he will tie that record. “The atmosphere out here is electric, and it definitely drives me,” Thomas added.

As Thomas dazzled on the course, others struggled. Aaron Rai, who was tied for the lead after Round 1, suffered a triple-bogey on the 17th hole after hitting his ball into the water, falling back to 2-under for the day. “It was disappointing to make a mistake like that,” he said. “I’ll definitely learn from it.”

Adding to the drama, Wyndham Clark withdrew after nine holes due to a neck injury, marking the end of his title defense as last year’s runner-up. Clark had shot a 4-over 40 on the front nine, needing a quick turnaround to make the cut, which is currently projected at 1-under. “It’s unfortunate to step away, but health comes first,” Clark mentioned.

Jordan Spieth showcased his trademark creativity on the course, executing a left-hand punch shot on the par-4 5th hole. “You can always count on something unexpected from Spieth,” noted a spectator. He remains competitive at 1-under after two bogeys on the day.

Among those capitalizing on strong outings are Akshay Bhatia and Min Woo Lee, both of whom have shot well under par and share the lead entering the weekend. Bhatia followed a 5-under 67 with a solid 6-under 66 in Round 2. “I’m just trying to stay in the moment,” Bhatia explained.

Rory McIlroy, while impressive with his play, found himself two strokes back after finishing 68 on Friday, bogeying two of his last four holes. “I had great opportunities but fell flat toward the end,” said McIlroy, who is currently tied for fourth.

As the second round continues, fans can expect ongoing excitement as the race for the trophy intensifies on the iconic Stadium Course. The projected cut line is expected to leave roughly 65 out of the original 144 players standing for the weekend.