The 2025 Open Championship began at Royal Portrush with a demanding start for Justin Thomas, who encountered slow play and difficult weather conditions during his first round on July 18. Thomas, competing alongside Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood, took four hours to complete just 11 holes, contributing to a notably slow pace of play that affected his performance.
When asked about the slow pace in a post-round press conference, Thomas described the conditions as particularly tough, emphasizing the impact of strong crosswinds that made hitting fairways and greens extremely challenging. He remarked,
“It seemed really slow. Once we got to the back nine, it just seemed — yeah, it just — I mean, the back nine’s so tough with all the cross-winds. It’s really, really hard to hit fairways. Then when you miss the fairway, it’s hard to hit the green. It’s a grind, so everyone’s going through it.”
—Justin Thomas, PGA Tour winner
Detailed Breakdown of Thomas’ First Round Performance
Justin Thomas opened with a bogey on the first hole but quickly bounced back with birdies on the second and fifth holes. However, his momentum fluctuated as he posted a bogey on the sixth. On the front nine, Thomas showed resilience with birdies at the seventh and eighth holes before a double bogey on the ninth disrupted his rhythm. On the back nine, he managed consistent pars, except for a bogey on the 11th hole.
Thomas finished his first round with a score of 1-over-par 72, positioning him tied for 45th place alongside players like 2025 Genesis Scottish Open winner Chris Gotterup and US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley. Meanwhile, Harrish English shares the early lead with Matt Fitzpatrick, Jacob Skov Olesen, and two others.
Here is Thomas’ hole-by-hole breakdown from Round 1:
- Hole 1 (par 4) – 5
- Hole 2 (par 5) – 4
- Hole 3 (par 3) – 3
- Hole 4 (par 4) – 4
- Hole 5 (par 4) – 3
- Hole 6 (par 3) – 4
- Hole 7 (par 5) – 4
- Hole 8 (par 4) – 3
- Hole 9 (par 4) – 6
- Hole 10 (par 4) – 4
- Hole 11 (par 4) – 5
- Hole 12 (par 5) – 5
- Hole 13 (par 3) – 3
- Hole 14 (par 4) – 4
- Hole 15 (par 4) – 4
- Hole 16 (par 3) – 3
- Hole 17 (par 4) – 4
- Hole 18 (par 4) – 4
Impact of Tournament Conditions and Thomas’ Outlook
Thomas noted that the large number of competitors and the weather played significant roles in causing the slow round. Despite the long day and fatigue from extensive play, he expressed satisfaction with how he managed the challenges on the course. His remarks recognized that everyone in the tournament was enduring a tough day under demanding conditions.
As the Open Championship progresses, Thomas will need to adjust to the tough Royal Portrush setup to improve his standing. The grueling start underscores the difficulty participants face at this event, illustrating why consistency and patience will be key moving forward. Fans and analysts will watch closely to see how top contenders like Thomas adapt during the rounds ahead.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. How old is Justin Thomas’s wife?
A. Thomas lives next to Tiger Woods, a 48-year-old golf legend, and has received a lot of guidance from him. He has talked about how playing sports professionally has affected his mental health. His wife, Jillian Wisniewski, 31, has been a huge source of support for him.