Monday Morning Caddy - January 16, 2017

January 16, 2017 Sara Rubin Comments

2017 golf has officially started with a bang and we couldn't be more excited.  If anything is going to get us through these dreary winter months, it's going to be watching great golf in warm and sunny locations.  Here's what you missed this weekend if you were busy watching the NFL playoffs or salting your driveway:

Thomas’ Hawaiian Magic

If you’re not familiar with the name Justin Thomas yet, you’d better get used to hearing about him.  This young stud has started off 2017 with not one but two victories that smashed the record books.  In particular, his victory this weekend has catapulted Thomas into the record books with the lowest 72-hole total in PGA history.  Thomas overtook Tommy Armour III 254 at the 2003 Texas Open and man, did he do it in style.  His opening round 59 set the tone for the week and Thomas would close out in style with a two-putt from 60-feet on 18 for a salty 5-under 65.

It’s safe to say that the rest of the field felt a little helpless.  Jordan Speith was quoted as saying, “I felt like I was trying to win a tournament for second place.”  Justin Rose ended up finishing second, while Speith took third.  Justin Thomas is the first and only other person since Ernie Els in 2003 to sweep Hawaii.  All we know is that Thomas is one to watch this season and 2017 golf has started off with a bang.

In Other Sony Open News…

While Justin Thomas was busy setting the 72-hole PGA Course Record, Chez Reavie, a 35 year old pro with one tour victory decided he had a little Sunday magic of his own.  Reavie started the day exceptionally well on the back nine and was 4-under through his first seven holes.  Then things got really magical on the Par 3 11^th where he hit a beautiful 6-iron to the green.  We’ll let you see for yourself what happened next:

McIlroy’s Back Problems

While most eyes were  on the action at the Sony Open in Hawaii this past weekend, there was a lot of great golf being played in South Africa as well.  World Number 2, Rory McIlroy, finished second for the fourth (yes, you read that right) time in a row.  He was taken out in a playoff with 251^st ranked Englishman Graeme Storm on Sunday.  While the loss certainly stung for 27-year old McIlroy, he also tweaked his back during the second round.  He’s on his way to Dubai for an MRI.  It’s too soon to tell what kind of impact this injury will have on Rory’s 2017 season, but here’s to a fast recovery.   

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