Can Justin Thomas Continue Playing the Open if His Royal Troon Attempt Backfires?

Justin Thomas had enough reasons to be happy on Thursday. A 3-under 68 is a good start when the scoring average was +1.75 on Data Golf. But given his winless streak, the question of his exemption status also comes to mind. His PGA Championship victory in 2022 saves a spot for the 2027 Open. But beyond that?

If the two-time major winner wants to continue the trip to the other side of the pond, he needs to pull off a few tricks from his sleeve. For one, should he win at Royal Troon, he will earn an exemption until the age of 55. Open winners since 2024 will earn an exemption until 55, as opposed to 60, which was given previously.

On the other hand, Justin Thomas needs to win any of the majors before teeing off at the 2027 Open. That would give him another five-year exemption. Either that or a victory at the 2027 BMW Championship (per current exemption rules). But JT hasn’t sniffed victory since 2022. If that winless streak continues, he must find other ways. 

Firstly, Justin Thomas must be in the top 50 in OWGR until week 21 in 2027. That’s considering OWGR remains on the checklist for Open qualifying for that year. Otherwise, a top-10 finish in the previous Open, i.e., the 2027 Open Championship, will guarantee a spot at Turnberry.  

There are still other ways if he can’t manage that. R&A also looks at the FedEx Cup rankings. To qualify via that, the 31-year-old needs to bag a few top-10 finishes in early 2028. Only top-20 players in the FedEx Cup are given a spot in the ensuing Open. This year, the top 20 players till the Travelers Championship (a month before the Open) earned their spots. 

If none of that works out for the former Crimson Tide, the qualifiers are the only way to secure his chances. This year, R&A hosted four qualifiers, with 16 spots in total on offer. Of course, all of these will depend on how the next few years pan out for the 15-time PGA Tour winner. As of now, Thomas sounded content with leading the first round. 

Justin Thomas feels hopeful of changing his Open Championship fate

Thomas loves teeing off at Links Courses. But it’s not a reciprocal relationship in any way. In his previous seven appearances, the two-time major winner has never finished inside the top 10. The closest he came was the T11 in 2019. Barring that, Justin Thomas has never broken inside the top 35. Last year, he opened with an 82, followed by a 71, nowhere close to making the cut. 

Asked if he hopes to correct his Links Golf record this year, Thomas said, “I don’t know, there’s a lot of factors and variables that go into it, but no, I thought I had to choose one style of golf or probably even one golf course the rest of my life to play, it would be a links course. It’s fun.”

The 3-under 68 could’ve been better, of course, except for the double on the 12th and a bogey on the 13th. Last week, Thomas was the first-round leader with a spectacular 62. Three rounds over 70 later, Justin Thomas eventually finished T62 by Sunday. There are definitely lots of factors and variables. But the good thing is, Thomas seems to know what they are.