Justin Thomas Claims RBC Heritage Victory In Thrilling Final Day

Justin Thomas birdied the first playoff hole to defeat Andrew Novak and claim a first victory since the 2022 PGA Championship

Justin Thomas fist pumps

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In a thrilling final day at Harbour Town Golf Links, Justin Thomas secured his first victory since the 2022 PGA Championship, with the American claiming victory at the RBC Heritage.

The two-time Major winner had come into the final round trailing Si Woo Kim but, after a three-under 68, Thomas joined fellow countryman, Andrew Novak, in a playoff.

Justin Thomas fist pumps

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Both men had carded 68s in regulation play and, after Thomas found the fairway at the first playoff hole, Novak followed the 32-year-old, with both men then finding the green with their approach shots.

However, after Novak missed his attempt, that left Thomas to roll in his putt from 21-foot to claim a first title in two-and-a-half years, with Thomas adding his name to the roll of honor at the RBC Heritage.

"Winning is hard" stated Thomas, who becomes a 16-time PGA Tour winner following his victory at Harbour Town Links.

"I've worked my butt off and stayed patience and positive. I've got a great wife, team and daughter. I didn't realize how much I enjoyed winning. Battling out there was so much fun."

RBC Heritage Leaderboard

  • -17 Justin Thomas (won playoff)
  • -17 Andrew Novak
  • -14 Daniel Berger, Mackenzie Hughes, Brian Harman, Maverick McNealy
  • -13 Tommy Fleetwood
  • -12 Scottie Scheffler, Russell Henley, Si Woo Kim
  • -11 J.T. Poston, Sungjae Im
  • -10 Sam Burns, Sepp Straka, Viktor Hovland, Cam Davis, Patrick Cantlay
  • -9 Xander Schauffele, Sami Valimaki, Chris Kirk, Eric Cole, Jordan Spieth, Ryo Hisatsune, Tom Hoge, Shane Lowry, Keegan Bradley
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THE WINNING MOMENT

JUSTIN THOMAS WINS

Novak is first up and, from 30-feet, his attempt slides by, with the American tapping in for par. That leaves Thomas with a 20-footer for the win and, striking his putt, it never looks anywhere else, as it drops in for birdie and a first win in over two years! What a victory for JT.

JUSTIN THOMAS WINS THE RBC HERITAGE

ADVANTAGE THOMAS

Thomas hits in to the green first and puts it to 21-feet. Novak, who is 15-yards closer, strikes a wedge from 150-yards and only just clears the lake, with the American's shot finishing 33-feet from the flag. Advantage Thomas.

THOMAS AND NOVAK FIND THE FAIRWAY

Thomas steps up first in the playoff and finds the fairway, with Novak following him shortly after. It's advantage Novak, though, who is closer than Thomas at the 18th hole.

PLAYOFF TIME

Novak has a putt to win but, from 15-feet, it never looks close as it slides by the left side. Novak rolls it in from three-feet and we're heading for a playoff at Harbour Town Golf Links.

DRAMA AT THE 18TH

Thomas misses his birdie attempt and finishes at 17-under. A valiant effort from the American, who sets the clubhouse target.

Behind Thomas, Novak finds the fairway and, with his approach, he sticks it to 11-feet! He will have that for the victory and a first PGA Tour title...

GREAT SHOT AT 18

Playing the 72nd hole, Thomas fires in an excellent shot to around 15-feet, with the two-time Major winner faced with a great look at birdie.

At the 71st hole, Novak does well to two-putt from distance as he remains in a share of the lead at 17-under.

SO CLOSE FOR JT

After Novak's putt, Thomas has a birdie putt at the 17th to regain the lead and, a few feet out, it seems to be in. However, the putt drops just shy of the hole, with Thomas tapping in for par, as heads down the 18th at 17-under and in a share of the lead with one hole remaining.

NOVAK BIRDIES

What a putt from Novak, who holes a 17-footer at the 16th to move into a share of the lead with Thomas at 17-under. The pair are tied with two holes remaining.

SCHEFFLER FINISHES WITH A BIRDIE

The World No.1 has struggled today, but has birdied the final hole to get to 12-under and, currently, into a share of seventh. Another impressive performance from Scheffler, who didn't have his best stuff this week.

NOVAK PARS THE 15TH

After laying up with his second, Novak finds the green with his third at the par 5 15th, with the American two putting for par to stay at 15-under, one back of Thomas.

Up ahead, Thomas, finds the wasteland with his tee shot and, with his approach, he goes over the back of the green and will have a straightforward up-and-down coming up.

HUGE PUTT FROM JT

THOMAS TAKES THE LEAD

Justin Thomas lines up a putt

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Excellent from Thomas who, after laying up at the par 5 15th, manages to get up-and-down from 100-yards! Faced with a 25-footer for birdie, the two-time Major winner holes an incredible putt to get to 17-under and claim a one shot lead with three holes remaining.

KIM STRUGGLING

Overnight leader, Kim, has struggled this back nine and, after bogeys at the 10th and the 12th, he makes a hash of the 14th, with a poor bunker shot and chip leading to a double bogey five. He is now 11-under for the tournament, five back of the leaders.

NOVAK MAKES A CLUTCH PAR

DOUBLE BOGEY FOR SCOTTIE

The World No.1 went for it in two at the par 5 15th but, after pulling his approach into the water, Scheffler has to settle for a double bogey seven. He drops back to 12-under, four back of Thomas and Novak.

NOVAK HOLES ANOTHER BIG PUTT

The American has shown serious class today and, at the par 4 12th, Novak makes another excellent up-and-down to remain in share of the lead at 16-under.

Away from Novak, Harman three putts to fall back to 14-under, with the Major winner now sharing third with Berger, Kim and Scheffler, who has just found the water at the 15th.

BIG MOVES AT THE TOP

Thomas converts his short par putt at the 12th to stay at 16-under, while Harman makes back-to-back birdies at the 12th and 13th to get to 15-under, one back of Thomas and Novak.

Behind the pair, Maverick McNealy has double bogeyed the 12th to fall back to 13-under, while Daniel Berger has birdied the last to finish 14-under.

BIG SAVE FROM NOVAK

After a bad break off the tee, Novak plays a pitch shot to around 10-feet and converts for par to stay at 16-under-par. That is a big moment for the American, who maintains a share of the lead with Thomas.

HARMAN GETS TO 14-UNDER

Brian Harman claimed the Valero Texas Open just a fortnight ago and, in Sea Island, the former Open winner is making a charge on Sunday.

The American holes a lengthy putt at the 12th to get to 14-under, just two back of Thomas and Novak. In terms of the duo, Thomas has found the fairway at the par 4 12th, while Novak is in trouble after being forced to chip out at the 11th.

SCHEFFLER ON A CHARGE?

Scottie Scheffler stares on

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The World No.1 and defending champion has been pretty quiet over the last few days but, on Sunday, Scheffler has birdied the 10th and 11th to get to 14-under.

He's now two shots back and, what's more, Kim has bogeyed the 10th to join him at 14-under, with the 29-year-old struggling on Sunday.

KIM MOVES TO 15-UNDER

Si Woo Kim birdies the ninth and is now 15-under, just one back of Justin Thomas and Andrew Novak. However, at the par 4 10th, the South Korean carves his tee shot right and will have a tough shot coming up.

In the same group, Novak also goes right off the tee and into the spectators, with it unclear as to how his golf ball is lying. Up ahead, Thomas' birdie putt at the 10th comes up just short, with the American tapping in for par to remain at 16-under.

HELLO ALL

Hello all, and welcome to Golf Monthly's final round coverage of the RBC Heritage, where Justin Thomas leads going into the back nine.

The two-time Major winner is searching for his first victory since the 2022 PGA Championship, with a mix of experience and rookies chasing down the American.