CASTLE ROCK, Colo. - Talk about cutting it close, sources spotted Justin Thomas chillaxing on his flight from Denver to his Jupiter pad when he got the text that would change his weekend plans. After shooting a solid four-under 68 at Castle Pines, our guy slipped from 22nd to 31st in the points standings and was ready to hit the beach.
But it seems like the golf gods weren't done with him yet! Instead of stressing' all afternoon, Justin decided to peace out early and enjoy some R&R at home. Who can blame him after the grind of these playoffs? Turns out his intuition served him right because Brian Harman ended up dumping it in the drink on 18, vaulting Justin Thomas safely into the big dance in Atlanta.
A twist of fate - it looked like Thomas's Tour Champs dreams were dunzo. But thanks to Brian Harman taking a dip in the drink on the final hole to double-bogey 18, Thomas got the ultimate boost up to 30th.
Read more: Starting scores for all 30 golfers at the 2024 Tour Championship
Meanwhile, it was doom and gloom for poor Jason Day. He started the day in a good spot at 25th in the points, but little did he know the disaster that would unfold. By the end of his round, his season was sent packing. Word on the course is two nightmare holes - a triple bogey on 14 followed by a double on 15 - totally torpedoed his chances of making it to East Lake. Brutal way to go out, but I guess that's playoffs. Nothing is safe until you punch your ticket.
Gutted to have the season come to end but thank you to all the fans and sponsors throughout the year! On to the @presidentscup @presidentscupintlteam 👊🏽 pic.twitter.com/Quy8Gwfzqv
— Jason Day (@JDayGolf) August 25, 2024
Get this - sources say Day was chillin' at four under and lookin' good through 13 holes. But little did he know the nightmare that awaited on holes 14 and 15.
First, at the par 5 14th, his second shot from the right rough went absent without leave. Some say it landed in Montana?! Either way, he had to re-tee and take another hack from the same messy lie. A two shot swing right there. Then to add insult, he three-putted from only 12 feet to post a dizzying triple-bogey 8.
Things didn't get any better at the next hole either. I'm told another penalty was assessed and he somehow put up a DOUBLE bogey six. The stuff of FedEx Cup playoff nightmares, folks.
He closed out with back-to-back birdies like the champion he is. But the damage was done - that 71 sent him tumbling all the way down to 33rd in the standings. Harsh way to end the season, but just goes to show it ain't over til it's over out here.
It was a bummer for 19th ranked Max Homa - despite draining a smokin' five-under 67, he fell short and finished outside the top 30 at 46th.
But it was redemption for Tommy Fleetwood. After starting the week in a precarious 31st, his tidy three-under 69 paired with some stumbles from others to rocket him all the way up to 23rd.
Same goes for Chris Kirk - that gorgeous 69 swung him from 32nd to a cozy 27th, with just enough cushion to tee it up in Atlanta.
As for Keegan Bradley, can you even call that sneaking in?! After a blazing hot 12-under total, the 50th ranked sniper blew the field away by a shot to take the W. He'll enter East Lake fourth behind Scheffler, Xander and Matsuyama, what a glow up!
