Justin Thomas painted a bold picture for himself ahead of the Sentry. He had grand plans – a Scottie Scheffler-like season laced with a handful of titles; “I understand it’s not realistic in the percentages and the likeliness of it, it’s probably not, but I still fully believe that I can have a year like Scottie just had.” That first attempt at the historic season came up short.

Terribly short. Thomas netted a T26 at Maui’s Kapalua Plantation Course. He was a whopping 16 shots behind the eventual champion, Hideki Matsuyama, and 13 behind runner-up Collin Morikawa. Although Thomas would like to believe and everyone to believe that he can pull it off, the majority opinion among the golf community is different. 

Alan Shipnuck, the celebrated author of ‘LIV and Let Die’ is for one to believe Morikawa would be more successful this year than Thomas. In the latest episode of Ask Alan, the veteran sports writer was asked who would win more, JT or Morikawa. His response? “That’s easy: Morikawa.”

Now Shipnuck and JT are not in the best of terms. The veteran sportswriter’s book, ‘LIV and Let Die’ caused a massive stir as both LIV Golfers and PGA Tour pros blasted Shipnuck for what they claimed were unverifiable truth and lies. Thomas took up the cudgels for his colleagues. 

The 15-time PGA Tour winner tweeted, “I’d like to speak on behalf of a lot of Tour players and say we’re sick of @AlanShipnuck doing what he does. Bring positivity and good stories to help grow the game of golf, not try and make money bashing guys, earning zero trust, with a lot of incorrect information. Ridiculous.” But Shipnuck’s recent comments are based on verifiable data and not past grudges (if ever there are any).

Shipnuck expanded. “JT isn’t slumping; he has been lost for years. He blacked out on Sunday at Southern Hills and stole that PGA Championship but it’s his only win in nearly four calendar years.” That’s one bold statement. But what Shipnuck is alluding to here is historical form. Thomas had 12 top-tens since his playoff victory at the Southern Hills. At Southern Hills too, the 15-time PGA Tour winner almost fell off the leaderboard.

The ‘blackout’ Shipnuck mentions is arguably the shank on the sixth. Thomas made a few clutch putts, nothing more important than the monster 65-footer he drained on Sunday. Regardless, nothing would’ve happened without Mito Pereira’s blunder on the 18th. That double bogey opened the doors of a playoff for Thomas and Will Zalatoris. Justin Thomas prevailed.

But that’s about it. As Shipnuck concluded his hot take, “Thomas ranked 25th (and 174th in putting!). With seven top-five finishes in 2024, Morikawa was unlucky not to win at least a couple of times. I think he’s going to put together a big year in ’25.” Putting has truly been disastrous for the two-time major winner. It was evident in Hawaii as well. Regardless, the former PGA Championship winner sounded remarkably hopeful.

Justin Thomas wants to fix things himself

Posting a few pictures of himself from the first Signature of the calendar year, Justin Thomas wrote on Instagram, “Me trying to figure out what I need to shoot each round to match -35 for next year @thesentry… There’s no place like @golfatkapalua @troon. The course was in amazing condition and enjoyable as always. Was a shame we didn’t get much wind besides Thursday to have the course play to its true self!… Looking forward to getting back to work and get ready for @theamexgolf.”

It was a shame indeed. Not just because Kapalua was rendered toothless without strong ocean wind. But also because Thomas wasn’t able to capitalize on the opportunity. Matsuyama & Co. made a birdie fest out of the par-73 layout. Thomas ranked 21st in Strokes Gained: Putting at the Sentry. He managed to pick only 22 birdies compared to 33 that Matsuyama fluttered.

And, he will be working all alone trying to turn his cold flatstick hot. “I think getting back to that, where I have the accountability and ownership to, like, if I’m not hitting it good, I need to be able to figure this out on my own. I don’t have somebody to hold my hand and kind of tell me what it is,” said the 31-year-old ahead of the Sentry.

Interestingly, Hank Haney, Tiger Woods’s former coach, warned that could backfire. “The on your own success list is very short, Justin’s dad Mike Thomas had a very good track record helping his son. He’s a good fallback if Justin needs help, at the end of the day when your expectations are to be a top 5 player but your putting stats are some of the worst on tour it’s a tough fit.” 

Nevertheless, for the two-time major winner, 2025 is an open book, even though Shipnuck feels the chapter of Justin Thomas’s dominance is closed. At least for now. The 31-year-old, a new dad on Tour, will tee off again at the American Express on January 16. Last year, Thomas bagged a T3 here.