A new year often represents new opportunities for growth, redemption, and even revenge.
All three of these traits apply to Justin Thomas. He had a terrible 2023 season, failing to make the FedEx Cup playoffs. He also missed the cut in three of the four major championships, with his tie for 65th at the PGA Championship being an outlier.
Alas, Thomas is hoping 2024 brings even more success. His season begins next week at the American Express, the PGA Tour's annual event, in Palm Springs, California.
“Obviously it's disappointing not to be able to start in Hawaii,” Thomas said at last month's PNC Championship.
“[The Sentry is] Always one of my favorites. I don't know what's going to happen, the world rankings and whatnot…but I learned a lot this season. The most important thing is that things are never as bad as people think. Sometimes I was just a few putts, shots, swings away from at least a chance to make a run. ”
The two-time major champion remained positive about the past season despite missing six cuts, the most since the 2016-17 season.
But he will be looking to start the 2024 season on a strong note in an event he hasn't competed in since 2015.
Thomas missed the cut in his two starts in the Coachella Valley in 2014 and tied for seventh in 2015. At the time, American Express was known as the Humana Challenge. It was originally known as the Bob Hope Desert Classic.
Regardless of sponsor, Thomas isn't the only contestant to keep an eye on in next week's tournament.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele and defending U.S. Open champion Windham Clark will also compete at American Express. These four of his players are currently ranked in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR).
Other notable participants include Michael Brock, who was invited after winning the Southern California PGA Professional Championship.
Daniel Berger will also play, making it his first tournament since 2022.
Sam Barnes, Eric Cole, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Minwoo Lee, Robert McIntyre, Shane Lowry, Camilo Villegas and Will Zalatoriz will also be participating. listed as a participant At next week's tournament.
Players will play one round at three different courses: the Pete Dye Stadium Course, La Quinta Country Club and the Nicklaus Tournament Course, with the 54-hole cut taking place on Saturday night.
The top 65 players and tied players will advance to Sunday's final round at the Pete Dye Stadium Course.
Certainly, Thomas wants to make it in time for Sunday and not start the season without making the cut. That will pose a challenge for the 15-time PGA Tour winner. But Thomas has a tendency to bounce back, and everyone in the golf world expects that from him.
Perhaps the new year and the start of a new season will make him do it.
Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation's Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.
