NASSAU, BAHAMAS – For at least one player in the 20-man field at the Hero World Challenge, the “Silly Season” event has serious implications.
Justin Thomas will be playing in Tiger Woods’ tournament for the sixth time. But unlike his first five starts, the 30-year-old is looking to pave the way for even better things in 2024 as the PGA Tour moves to a calendar-year schedule centered around field-only signature events. I need to spend a solid week in Albany.
Thomas endured the worst year of his career in ’23, finishing 71st.cent He was on the final points list for the FedEx Cup. Starting next season, the top 50 players on last year’s points list will be eligible to participate in all eight signature events.
An alternative for Thomas to participate in such tournaments is through the use of world rankings. The top 30 players in the world (excluding The Sentry) who advance to each Signature Event will qualify.
Thomas is currently in 27th placeth And although it’s an unofficial PGA Tour event, Hero, which offers OWGR points, is your last chance to push up the rankings.
“the [staying inside top 30] It’s definitely somewhere in my heart. All I know is that if I continue to show some progress and keep getting better and better, I feel like everything will take care of itself,” Thomas said Tuesday in Albany.
Fortunately for Thomas, there are other paths to the most lucrative events. The top 10 players (otherwise ineligible) on Monday’s current FedExCup points list for the featured event will qualify. Similarly, the top five players (no other qualifications) in points from each “swing” between representative events will also be earned (e.g., Sony Open, American Express, Farmers Insurance, Pebble to his beach). This will be your first swing to qualify).
Each signature event also includes four sponsor exemptions for tour members.
“I have to come out here and try to win golf tournaments, get as many birdies as possible, make as few bogeys as possible and have a lot of fun,” he said. “I don’t have to be here this week and think about how many points this is or what I need to do to stay in the top 30 in the world or trying to move up here and there. Just play good golf. Everything will take care of itself.”