Justin Thomas played the par-5 18th hole expertly – twice – on Sunday, making birdie both times to win the Honda Classic in a playoff, his second victory of the 2017-18 US PGA Tour season.
With Luke List on the green in two on the final hole of regulation, Thomas needed birdie to tie and stuck his wedge shot to within two feet to set up the tying birdie. Then, on the first hole of overtime, Thomas drew a 5-wood from 236 metres and landed the shot on the green, leading to a two-putt birdie. When List couldn’t convert his birdie putt, Thomas, who said the day was “another level of difficulty,” made a tester from three feet for his seventh win in 31 events.
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The club Thomas used for the second shot on the playoff hole was Titleist’s 18-degree 915Fd 5-wood. Interestingly, he first put that fairway wood in his bag at the CJ Cup last October, when he captured his first win of the season. The club boasts a slightly smaller head size than the normal 915 fairway wood with a marginally deeper face, resulting in faster ball speed with lower spin for extra distance. Sounds like something a player might need when faced with 236m off the deck to a green surrounded by water and sand. Thomas had that club in his bag, and he made the most of it.
The clubs and ball Justin Thomas had in play at the Honda Classic
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Driver: Titleist 917D2 (Mitsubishi Diamana BF60 TX), 8.5 degrees
3-wood: Titleist 917F2, 15 degrees
5-wood: Titleist 915Fd, 18 degrees
Irons (4): Titleist 718 AP2; (5-9): Titleist 718 MB prototype; (PW): Titleist Vokey SM6
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM5 (52, 56 degrees); Titleist Vokey SM6 (60 degrees)
Putter: Scotty Cameron by Titleist Futura X5
