Justin Thomas emerged as a top performer during the final round at Aronimink, achieving a remarkable 5-under 65 and tying for fourth place. The finish earned Thomas $843,866 in prize money.

On the other hand, finishing the last hole before 3:05 p.m. EDT made him undergo an unexpected wait of about three hours while the remaining players continued with their rounds. The 16-time PGA Tour winner decided to leave the clubhouse to escape the tension prevailing there.

Thomas openly admitted he wanted to avoid the endless questions from everyone around him about the possible results. "I just didn't honestly didn't want to have that conversation 45 times," Thomas confessed regarding his immediate clubhouse exit.

He retreated to his close rental home alongside his parents, aunt, and uncle to watch the live broadcast.

"So just kind of went back and waited and watched and it was a lot," he added.

While his golf-loving self enjoyed the broadcast very much, the competing part of him hoped that the remaining competitors would refrain from getting more birdies. He waited in a strange mental limbo until Aaron Rai officially claimed the title.

The lengthy delay was the direct result of his early Sunday surge. Finishing hours before the leaders created a completely different feel than being directly inside the final group.

Justin Thomas' Strategic Schedule Decisions for Major Success

The tough wait after his gain of 300 vital FedExCup points tested Thomas' emotional capacity almost right away. To build on this momentum, Thomas has systematically altered his tournament schedule.

He has intentionally included the Charles Schwab Challenge in his schedule for the first time since 2022, after missing it for a few years. This is Thomas’ ninth appearance in the 2026 season.

Thomas believes playing the week before a major championship can be highly beneficial for his rhythm. However, he noted that certain regular events do not provide the ideal preparation for specific setups.

"Playing San Antonio the week before the Masters for me doesn't feel like that's getting me prepared," Thomas explained. He uses a highly situational approach to mapping out his tournament appearances.

To avoid physical fatigue, he strictly limits his consecutive tournament appearances to three. "I really, really, really try with all my might to not do four in a row," Thomas admitted.

His top-five finish suggests his new scheduling strategy is working. On reaching the Colonial Country Club, he wants to capitalize on the success he gained here by finishing in the top ten in 2020.

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Written by

Abhishek Sharma

Edited by

Koushik Biswas