Justin Thomas’s bid to become World No 1 dashed

Justin Thomas was in touching distance of replacing Dustin Johnson as World No 1, but a resurgent Bubba Watson beat him 3&2 to progress into the final against Kevin Kisner.

Kisner beat Alex Noren in the first extra play off hole, after they finished all sqaure at the 18th.

Thomas was three down after six holes to Watson and eventually lost 3&2. He pulled it back to one down at the turn, but was three down after 12, with a missed five footer. He missed another slightly longer putt on the 13th, and had a final chance for a birdie and a win on the 14th, but ended up having to make a tricky five footer to keep the match alive.

The end came at the 16th, when Bubba matched Thomas’s birdie putt from the edge of the green.

Kisner won the first hole, but Noren holed from 51 feet for an eagle to win the 12th and level the contest.

Noren missed a seven footer to win the match at the last and then three-putted from off the green at the first extra hole, the par five 12th, to leave Kisner a four-footer for his place in the final. The Ice-man had melted, and with it our chances of a Sunday payday.

Kisner looks like a tough competitor, and it will be interesting to follow his progress in the run up to the Ryder Cup. 

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