HOYLAKE, England – Without timeouts, substitutes or teammates, competitive golf produces the loneliest environments. The last two players on the range on a major Sunday. A cleared final green before a must-make putt. And then there’s the miserable arena that Justin Thomas currently occupies: He’s battling through a months-long slump for all the world to see, with nowhere to hide, no immediate end in sight and no time to waste.
For longtime observers, it's jarring to watch, really. Born into a family of teaching pros, Thomas’ career trajectory has known only one direction. He was a prolific winner as a junior.