Justin Thomas has clear Ryder Cup goal in mind as PGA Tour star rediscovers formHaving last won a tournament at the US PGA Championship in 2022, Justin Thomas is coming into form just at the right time as he targets a Ryder Cup berth for a fourth time in his career

Justin Thomas impressed during the opening two rounds at he RBC Heritage 2025 at Harbour Town Golf Links (Image: Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Justin Thomas has confessed that he has learned to deal with the pressure of securing a Ryder Cup spot as he targets automatic qualification – amid his impressive showing at the RBC Heritage.

The American put in an excellent performance in the opening two rounds at the tournament to lead proceedings by two strokes at Harbour Town Golf Links in South Carolina. In Round 1, the two-time major championships victor equalled the course record as he shot a 10-under-par 61.

After those heroics, he returned to a card a two-under round of 69 on Friday to establish a lead over South Korean rival Kim Si-woo. The 31-year-old now has the opportunity to finally end his long wait for victory, having last won a title at the US PGA Championship back in 2022.

Either way, the former world No. 1 is eager to block out the noise surrounding whether he will feature in a fourth Ryder Cup of his career in September. Asked whether the experience of previously coming under scrutiny for his performances leading into the spectacle in the past has helped him to deal with being in the glare of the spotlight this time around, he admitted: “It definitely helps.

“I think I did a better job with it last year. I think I said it kind of in the fall or maybe beginning of the year but I’m kind of excited about playing a little pissed off that I didn’t get picked for the Presidents Cup team.

“I don’t like feel like I deserved to, but internally I always feel like I’m going to be a great addition. It’s a nice thing for me to get to do, and I just thought I would really like to put myself in a position where I’m not relying on a pick anymore because it’s not fun. I can’t really complain about getting picked or not getting picked if I just qualify. So that’s the goal.”

Justin Thomas has represented Team USA at three editions of the Ryder Cup, including at Marco Simone Golf Club in 2023 ( Image: Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

As for his much-lauded showings at the RBC Heritage this week, it appears that Thomas is keen to focus on the job at hand, as opposed to getting too excited too soon. He said: “I feel like I didn’t do anything crazy. I just drove the ball well, which is very, very important out here, and I felt like it was just one of those days I put the ball in a spot that I had a lot of good numbers.”

As for his return to form as he looks to end his wait for another tournament triumph, he has now acknowledged he has tried “too hard” to put things right in the past. He professed: “It’s so—I mean, all of us, I would assume, want to win so bad and I want to win so bad.

“I’m sick of getting asked. I almost feel like I’m kind of past the point where fortunately you all have stopped asking me, which is nice, but I would also prefer to get that over with.

“I think it’s just that’s something I feel like I did so, so well there for a couple of years is I just let tournaments come to me and I just trusted in my ability That’s just really been my key this week is I’m just trying to really trust my game and commit to what I’m doing. I have a lot of faith and confidence in what I can do. So, I just need to let it happen.”