Justin Thomas didn’t like what he saw going on around Hilton Head Island this past week.
Seems there were crowds everywhere — beaches, restaurants, you name it.
“No offense to Hilton Head,” Thomas observed. “but they’re seeming to not take it (COVID-19) very seriously. It’s an absolute zoo around here. There’s people everywhere. The beaches are absolutely packed. Every restaurant, from what I’ve seen when I’ve been driving by, is absolutely crowded.”
On Friday, Nick Watney became the first tour player to test positive for COVID-19.
“Unfortunately, that’s not on him (Watney) because I know he’s very cautious and has done everything he can, but I would say a lot of people in this area of Hilton Head just aren’t,” Thomas continued.
But Thomas reiterated that he feels safe with the PGA Tour’s testing and prevention protocols.
“I feel very safe,” Thomas said. “I wouldn’t be playing if I didn’t. The Tour has done all the protocols they can. Unfortunately, you can’t control guys going to get something to eat or whatever it might be, if you’re staying in a hotel or room service or whatever it might be.”
Brooks Koepka Rounding Into Winning Form?
Brooks Koepka had a good Sunday outing at Harbour Town with a closing 65 that took him to 18-under par. His solo seventh has him looking ready to win again.
“I felt like at The Players, I was turning the corner,” Koepka said after his finish on Sunday. “I worked with Claude (Harmon III) every day for the past month, month-and-a-half. I feel close, feel like I’m knockin’ on the door to win again.”
Another Struggle For Jordan Spieth:
Once again things started well for Jordan Spieth last week at the RBC Heritage. He opened on Thursday with a 66 but things went downhill from there. After shooting even par 70 on Friday, he shot three-over for the weekend. With the contenders going on a birdie binge, Spieth shot rounds of 73-70 and finished in a dismal tie for 68th.
Spieth problems remain the same — wild tee shots, a two-way miss and missed short putts.
Top 10 Finish For DeChambeau:
Bryson DeChambeau got off to a quick start the first two rounds at Harbour Town — 67-64. He fell behind with a one-under par 70 on Saturday while the leaders went low. He rallied with 66 on Sunday to finish tied for eighth.
DeChambeau was pleased that he an adapt to courses where his driver stays in the bag most of the week.
“On short courses I can still play good, even with my added length,” DeChambeau said. “Even though I couldn’t use my length to my advantage this week, I was able to take care of some business and gave myself a chance at the title. The putts just didn’t fall this week.”
“It’s good to try and learn how to adapt. This style golf course, albeit I love it, it doesn’t fit my game,” DeChambeau added. “It’s amazing I can still adapt and lower my ball speed and still have the same control and control my irons and make decent amount of strokes and still get the ball to go in the hole.”
Closing 62 For Dylan Fritelli:
Lost in the action Sunday was Dylan Fritelli’s nine-under par 62. The former University of Texas golfer finished tied for eighth at 17-under par. He made nine pars and nine birdies on a day that saw him finish just a shot short of tying the tournament 18-hole record.
Six birdies over the final nine holes got him in with 29 on that side, including birdies at 17 and 18.