Justin Thomas targets fresh start at The Open after childhood dream talk

Justin Thomas says he’s ready to move on from his childhood dream of winning The Open Championship.

On the eve of the 152nd Open at Royal Troon, Thomas told reporters he wants to stop thinking about the milestone he once chased as a kid. The two-time PGA champion arrives at the Scottish links with a single goal: compete, not chase history.

Thomas made the comments during a Tuesday press conference at Royal Troon. “I don’t need to keep reminding myself about what I dreamed about as a kid,” he said. “I just want to go out and play golf.” The 33-year-old American arrives with a career-best finish of tied-12th at last month’s U.S. Open, his best major result since the 2023 PGA Championship.

The Open remains the only major missing from Thomas’s resume. He’s won twice on the PGA Tour this season, but the claret jug has eluded him in eight appearances. Missing the cut at St Andrews in 2022 and finishing T-68 at Hoylake in 2023 left gaps in his major record. Now, with a clearer head and a lighter load, he’s targeting a deep run at Royal Troon.

Thomas tees off Thursday at 8:10 a.m. local time in the first round. He’ll face a field that includes defending champion Brian Harman, Rory McIlroy and Viktor Hovland. The weather forecast calls for wind gusts up to 25 mph on Thursday, which could shape the early leadboard. Thomas’s last top-10 at The Open came in 2020 at Royal St George’s, where he finished tied-9th.

Thomas’s swing changes this year have stabilized his ball-striking. He ranks 12th in strokes gained: off the tee and 15th in proximity to the hole. Still, the Old Course’s bunkers and firm greens demand precision. “I’m not out here trying to make a statement,” he said. “I’m just trying to make pars and give myself chances.”