What’s different about Justin Thomas’ game in 2023? Look to his Approach stats
In 2023, Justin Thomas' game has undergone some changes, particularly in his Approach statistics. These changes have had an impact on his overall performance and his position in the FedExCup standings.
One area where Thomas is falling short this year is in his Proximity to Hole statistics. In 2023, he is ranked 139th in Proximity to Hole, a significant drop from his 16th position in 2022. On average, he is leaving himself longer putts from all approach length segments, resulting in a 4-foot increase in his average putt length. This has affected his putts-made percentage for scoring.
When looking at his Proximity to Hole by approach length, it is evident that Thomas' average proximity this year is higher than in 2022 from all distances. He used to excel in all approach length segments between 75 and 175 yards, but this season, he is not in the top 10 of any yardage group.
The impact of his increased Proximity to Hole can be seen in his putting statistics. Thomas is losing strokes to the field in putting, with a negative Strokes Gained: Putting value of -0.29 in 2023, compared to a positive value of 0.22 in 2022. His three-putts are also increasing, with a Three-Putt Avoidance rate of 4.26% in 2023, compared to 2.31% in 2022.
One factor influencing his Approach statistics is his performance Off the Tee. In 2023, Thomas is facing longer approach shots more frequently, resulting in an increase in his average proximity to the hole on approach shots. He is hitting his approach shots farther from the hole from all distances compared to last season.
For the Wyndham Championship, Thomas will need to focus on his Approach game and capitalize on the shorter approaches that Sedgefield Country Club offers. A strong performance at this venue could potentially secure his spot in the Playoffs and keep his streak of consecutive TOUR Championship appearances alive.
Overall, Thomas' game has seen some fluctuations in 2023, but with strategic adjustments and a determined mindset, he still has the potential to perform at a high level and make a significant impact in the FedExCup Playoffs.
