'Justin Thomas Aims to Break Dry Spell at The American Express'
Justin Thomas is not satisfied with finishing in the top 10 on the PGA Tour this year.
After achieving six top-10 finishes last year, the 21st ranked golfer in the world is aiming for more success in 2025.
"The next step is definitely winning, winning and winning more," Thomas stated.
Thomas will strive to take that step and secure his first victory in over two years when he begins his round at The American Express on Thursday in La Quinta, California.
The 31-year-old has accumulated 15 Tour wins, but has not claimed a victory since his second PGA Championship title in May 2022. He had four top-10 finishes during the 2022-23 season and came close to breaking his drought late last year with two top-3 results.
"Obviously, I had a lot of good moments last year and played solid golf, but it was a season without any trophies. That's not acceptable for me, it's not my favorite thing in the world. I just have to keep working hard and improving," Thomas explained.
Thomas has now gone 50 Tour events without a win, after tying for 26th at The Sentry in Hawaii earlier this month.
He performed well at La Quinta last year, shooting 27 under to finish tied for third with Xander Schauffele and Taiwan's Kevin Yu.
The tournament features multiple courses, with each golfer playing one round at each course. The Pete Dye Stadium, Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West, and La Quinta Country Club all have a par-72 layout. The final round will be held at Pete Dye Stadium after the 54-hole cut reduces the field to 65 players.
Thomas believes that being aggressive on the "scorable" courses is crucial.
"It's all about making birdies on every hole. You have to hit the ball well off the tee, have a lot of wedges and short irons, and the par-5s are reachable. The greens are in great condition, so you can get on a roll. The key is to stay patient," he stated.
While the courses may seem forgiving, putting may prove to be a greater challenge after last summer's renovations.
"They have some tricky slopes on them. Some greens have been altered more than others. You'll definitely see some puzzled looks after putts. The greens have subtle movements and are very firm, so although the course is still very gettable, it requires more strategy than in the past," Thomas explained.
Thomas will be one of 155 competitors trying to dethrone 21-year-old Nick Dunlap, who won the event as an amateur last year. Dunlap's 29-under 259 was the lowest 72-hole score in the tournament's history.
Thomas did not have a strong start to his 2025 season in Hawaii, but that has not diminished his focus with plenty left to play for this year.
"My main goal is to win. I want to put myself in contention more often, play in the final groups, and have the lead going into the final round. I want to continue to improve and do it more frequently. That's what I'm striving for," Thomas declared.
