Justin Thomas Recovers From Disastrous Front-Nine 45 to Make the Cut at the Open Championship

It’s not every day that you’ll see a professional golfer happy with carding a 78. But for Justin Thomas’s second round of the Open Championship, his 78 could be labeled as impressive based on how things started.

After entering the day in the top five on the leaderboard at 3-under, Thomas’s front nine looked like the work of a bogey golfer. He logged a 9-over 45 at the turn.

Justin Thomas shot 68 yesterday to be in contention for the Open. He’s just gone out in a 9 over 45 today to be outside the cut line. Golf is brutal. pic.twitter.com/qKidN8Azhk

— Flushing It (@flushingitgolf) July 19, 2024

It looked similar to his progression aatlast week’s Genesis Scottish Open, where Thomas fired a 62 in the opening round tand hen was +4 over the next 54 holes.

But as stunning as the collapse was from Thursday’s solid opening round, Thomas rallied on the back nine.

Justin Thomas CHIPS IN over the pot bunker on 12. 👏

📺: @USANetwork | #TheOpen pic.twitter.com/4txt1BBevL

— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) July 19, 2024

This save on 12 came after a birdie on 10, and he ended up even the rest of the way. His 33 on the back nine led to a 7-over 78, but thanks to the difficult conditions, his +4 overall left him one shot clear of the projected cut line of +5.

Cover Image via CBS Sports