Justin Thomas got off to a solid start in the first round of the PGA Championship, but his post-round comments have shed light on a persistent issue plaguing modern golf.
Chasing his third major championship victory, Thomas carded a one-over 69 on Thursday at Aronimink, a round that featured a tale of two nines. He shot three-under on the front side but stumbled to two-over on the back nine, leaving him two shots off the lead heading into the second round.
When asked about the stark contrast between his nines, Thomas didn't just point to the course layout—he highlighted a growing frustration among players: slow play. "The front nine is definitely more gettable than the back, so that's a start," Thomas said. "I played, I felt like, flawless in there for probably 13 holes."
But then came the real issue. "Honestly, I just had a very hard time staying focused. It's a long, long day out there. It's so, so tough, very, very windy, some tough pins." Thomas admitted the round took such a physical and mental toll that he had no energy left for practice afterward. "If I had any energy left, I would go to the range and hit some, but I'm absolutely not doing that."
The grueling pace of play is a problem that extends beyond just this tournament. Thomas, who is still working his way back from back surgery, felt the effects of a marathon round more than most. But he's far from alone. Just last month, Matt Fitzpatrick drew criticism from fans for a painfully slow layup, and the issue has been a recurring theme across multiple events in recent years.
Despite the frustration, Thomas took pride in grinding through the tough conditions. "For sure. I really only hit a couple bad shots today. I played really, really solidly and drove the ball well until kind of the last four holes. Hit a lot of great putts, a lot of quality iron shots."
As the PGA Championship continues, the spotlight isn't just on the leaderboard—it's on the pace of play and how the sport can address a problem that's testing even the best players' patience and stamina.