Justin Thomas out to defend at RBC Heritage, back surgery behind him
Justin Thomas ended a 1,064-day winless streak, defeating Andrew Novak in a playoff to claim the 2025 RBC Heritage.
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S. C. – Smart golf.
That was the goal for Justin Thomas during the final round of the 2025 RBC Heritage. It sounds easy on paper but under the pressure of trying to win for the 16 th time in his career on the PGA Tour, it can be easier said than done. More: 2026 RBC Heritage tee times for Thursday's first round After all, it had been two years, 10 months and 29 days, or more to the point, 1,064 days, since his last win at the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills.
Thomas’s toughest opponent on the final day proved to be himself. His mantras were 'trust' and 'commitment' – trust his first instinct and commit to his shot choice. Thomas did just that, shooting a bogey-free final-round 3-under 68 at Harbour Town Golf Links and sinking a 21-foot birdie putt to defeat Andrew Novak on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff.
"When the ball went in, it was pure joy,” Thomas recalled. “That was as fun as I thought it would be. ” A year ago, the 32-year-old's opening-round 61 tied the Harbour Town course record, the fourth Tour event tying or holding a course record.