PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

May 14, 2026

Justin Thomas

Aronimink Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. 3-under, JT, on the front, 2-over on the back. To what do you attribute the difference?

JUSTIN THOMAS: The front nine is definitely more gettable than the back, so that's a start. I played, I felt like, flawless in there for probably 13 holes.

Yeah, honestly, I just had a very hard time staying focused. It's a long, long day out there. It's so, so tough, very, very windy, some tough pins.

Really proud of the way I played and the way I hung in there. Solid first round.

Q. Obviously some moments of frustration we saw out there, but I was wondering how much grace do you give yourself that in the wake of that, that it didn't completely get away from you?

JUSTIN THOMAS: For sure. I really only hit a couple bad shots today. I played really, really solidly and drove the ball well until kind of the last four holes. Hit a lot of great putts, a lot of quality iron shots. If I had any energy left, I would go to the range and hit some, but I'm absolutely not doing that.

Q. What was the greatest challenge out there today? The wind, the slope of the greens, all the things?

JUSTIN THOMAS: All of it. The pins were brutal. They were -- I mean, the pin on -- there were so many, but like that one on 14, when you're standing on the back of the green, I'm looking at it like this is a 220-yard par-3 into a 20 mile an hour wind, and that thing was right on the ridge.

That's what's kind of cool about this place. You can push the pins a little bit and kind of make it challenging, and carry it, and they do a great job.

Q. As it stands right now, you're two shots off the lead. Anticipation for tomorrow going out earlier as opposed to later in the afternoon today?

JUSTIN THOMAS: Really just trying to get some rest and kind of get back in it. I feel like I did a lot of really good things today and continue to do a lot of really good things.

Just try to do more of the same to start out tomorrow and see if we can ride a little momentum and focus on a lower number.