Justin Thomas and Andrew Novak, two men desperate for a win for different reasons, went overtime at the RBC Heritage with Thomas emerging the victor after dropping a 21-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole, his fifth make from outside 20 feet for the week and, according to Thomas afterwards, the first walk-off putt of his career.
The pair were tied at 16-under-par through 14 holes. It was Thomas, however, who took the lead at the par-5 15th with a 24-footer after laying up from the waste area with his second shot – a play that epitomises the type of thinking required to win at Harbour Town Golf Links. Novak, however, knotted things up with a birdie of his own at 16 leading to the playoff.
Thomas relied on a hot putter all week (including during an opening-round 61). He was second in strokes gained/putting and fourth in putts per GIR with his Scotty Cameron by Titleist Phantom 5 tour prototype putter. Thomas picked up nearly six shots on the field on the greens.
Into the greens, Thomas ranked seventh in strokes gained/approach – a handy stat to do well in considering Harbour Town’s tiny greens. Thomas uses a split set of Titleist irons, utilising the company’s T200 for his 4-iron, T100 for his 5-iron then a one-off 621 JT blade made just for him for the rest. The key: no offset. Not a little. None.
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“They look different from everyone else’s irons,” Thomas told Golf Digest a couple years ago. “It’s such a clean look from the shaft down to the hosel down to the clubhead. I will say that when I’m not hitting it well those irons look pretty difficult to hit, but it’s a great look.”
It’s been nearly three years since Thomas last won at the 2022 PGA Championship. Perhaps it’s a testament to his immense skills that golf fans and Thomas alike have been disappointed in his play since, despite the fact he’s banked more than $US11 million in that time – not exactly Chopper McGee territory.
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But $3.6 million for one week’s work is so much better.
What Justin Thomas had in the bag at the 2025 RBC Heritage
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
Driver: Titleist GT2 (Mitsubishi Diamana prototype), 10 degrees
3-wood: Titleist TS3, 15 degrees
5-woood: Titleist 915Fd, 18 degrees
Irons (4): Titleist T200; (5): Titleist T100; (6-9): Titleist 621.JT
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM10 (47.5, 52.5, 57 degrees); Titleist Vokey WedgeWorks (60.5 degrees)
Putter: Scotty Cameron by Titleist Phantom 5 tour prototype
