Justin Thomas In Grave Danger of Meeting Jordan Spieth’s Cruel Fate as Castle Pines Shows Its Claws
Castle Pines Golf Club has been the biggest test for the field of top 50 PGA Tour pros at the BMW Championship. With its high altitude and windy nature, even golfers like Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy lost their cool on the Denver greens. While the latter threw his three woods in rage, world no. 1 was in disbelief after hitting the ball into the rough. And now it seems Justin Thomas might meet an unfortunate fate at the second tournament of the FedExCup playoffs.
The 2-time major winner stands at 46th after the two rounds concluded at Castle Pines GC, as he shot 4 over 148. According to Data Golf, if the BMW Championship ends as it stands, meaning that if, by the final day, Thomas’s performance doesn’t improve and he finishes outside of the top 30, he won’t be able to play the TOUR Championship.
It will be similar to how Jordan Spieth missed out on two season-ending events after he finished T68 at the St. Jude Championship. Thomas was 23rd in the FedExCup standings when the BMW Championship started. Still, with his grim form, he may get dropped to 31st, being in a much more precarious position in the next 36 holes and missing out on the $100 million lucrative prize purse in East Lake.
Justin Thomas started the week 23rd in points (98.5% to advance), but if the tournament finished as it currently stands he’d be 31st (90% to advance).
Current bubble: pic.twitter.com/kNuQHyNH6J
— data golf (@DataGolf) August 23, 2024
It looks more likely that Thomas may miss the TOUR Championship because golfers like Adam Scott, Keegan Bradley, and Nick Dunlap, outside the top 30 on the FedExCup Standings, finished in the top positions after the first two rounds of the BMW Championship. If the event moves forward similarly as it has for JT, he will surely miss securing a spot in the top 30. But he would not be alone, as one of his close friends may join him soon.
Justin Thomas may not be the only golfer absent from the Tour Championship
The 2024 season has not been delightful for Max Homa. Just last week, the 6-time PGA Tour winner was the worst performer in the top 70 St. Jude Championship field. Homa was solo 70th on the leaderboard after he finished the first leg of the FedExCup playoffs with 11 over 291. But since he was securely sitting inside the top 50, the 33-year-old could play in the BMW Championship.
However, his chances of teeing off at the TOUR Championship look bleak. In the past two rounds at Castle Pines, although no tantrums have been recorded from Homa’s side, he made seven bogeys and two double bogeys in 36 holes. If there was a cut at the BMW Championship, Homa would have probably missed it, as he is 47th on the leaderboard. Homa already being 43rd on the FedExCup Standings doesn’t help either, as he needs to finish inside the top 15 to get a chance at East Lake.
With the California native struggling on the Colorado planes, it seems highly likely that he and Justin Thomas may soon join Jordan Spieth and miss out on the TOUR Championship. Unless the two pull out their best performance so far in the 2024 season and stun the many who may not have expected them to.
