Justin Thomas Faces Penalty at RBC Heritage, Impacting Third Round Lead

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. – Justin Thomas, the overnight leader at the RBC Heritage, faced a one-stroke penalty during the third round on Saturday after his ball moved while he tried to remove debris around it on the par-5 second hole.

Entering the weekend with a two-shot lead, Thomas struck his tee shot into the waste area along the left side of the fairway. While attempting to clear loose impediments, Thomas’ ball shifted slightly, prompting him to call for a rules official to assess the situation.

The official confirmed that Thomas was indeed in a waste area, allowing him to move the loose debris. However, since Thomas acknowledged that his actions caused the ball to move, he was penalized one stroke, converting what could have been a birdie on the hole to a par.

“My ball did move down a fraction because there’s just some stuff around it, and I was moving rocks,” Thomas explained to the official. When asked if he felt responsible for the movement, he responded, “I would think so,” leading to the official’s decision.

After the penalty, Thomas chipped to within 4 feet of the hole on his next shot but did not make a birdie putt. He ended the hole with a par, maintaining a score of even par for the round and 12 under overall, tied with golfer Si Woo Kim, who began his round with back-to-back birdies.

This marked the first time since the 2022 Farmers Insurance Open that Thomas had led entering the weekend. His last victory came at the 2022 PGA Championship, and he is eager to end his winless streak that has persisted since then.

“I want to win so bad. I’m sick of getting asked,” Thomas said. “I think it’s just something I feel like I did so, so well there for a couple of years—I just let tournaments come to me, and I trusted in my ability.”

Thomas previously tied a course record with a score of 61 on Thursday and followed it up with a 69 on Friday. The RBC Heritage is the 17th event of the 2025 PGA Tour schedule and is being broadcast across various networks, including the Golf Channel, CBS, and streaming platforms.

As he continues through the tournament, Thomas aims to regain his form while navigating the challenges presented on the course. His journey in search of a second major title since 2022 unfolds as he remains focused on achieving his goals.