HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. — Justin Thomas is back in the winner’s circle, claiming the 2025 RBC Heritage in a thrilling sudden-death playoff against Andrew Novak on Sunday at Harbour Town Golf Links. The victory, Thomas’ 16th on the PGA Tour and his first since the 2022 PGA Championship, marked the end of a nearly three-year winless streak for the 31-year-old Louisville native.
Thomas, who finished the tournament at 17-under par, carded rounds of 61, 69, 69, and a bogey-free 68 in the final round. His opening-round 61 tied the course record, setting the tone for a week of brilliant play. However, it was his clutch performance in the playoff that sealed the deal. Facing Novak on the par-4 18th hole, Thomas drained a dramatic 21-foot birdie putt — his fifth putt from beyond 20 feet for the week — to secure the title and a $3.6 million share of the $20 million purse.
“I was really proud today of just staying patient and kind of plotting our way along,” Thomas said.
“And yeah, I feel like winning on a golf course like this is a pretty cool thing to add to your resume. Not that I wouldn’t have taken one wherever I could get it, and still will, but it’s a great feeling.”
The victory, his first as a husband and father, propelled him to No. 6 in the world rankings while joining Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy as the only players, since 1960, to have won 16 or more PGA Tour events, including multiple majors, before age 32.
“To be in that company, it’s humbling,” said Thomas, during a post-round interview with CBS.
The final round was a rollercoaster. Thomas held a one-shot lead with three holes to play, but Novak, seeking his first PGA Tour win, battled back with a birdie at the 16th. Novak had a chance to win in regulation with an 8-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole but missed, forcing the playoff. In the extra hole, Thomas’ pinpoint approach and clutch putting proved decisive.
“I told my caddie walking to the 18th in the playoff that I’d never made a long putt to win a tournament,” Thomas said. “Then I stepped up and hit one of the best putts of my life.”
Thomas’ resurgence comes after a challenging period. Since his 2022 PGA Championship triumph, he missed the FedEx Cup playoffs in 2023 and was left off the 2024 U.S. Presidents Cup team.
However, 2025 has been a year of redemption, with five top-10 finishes, including runner-up results at The American Express and Valspar Championship. His performance at Harbour Town, where he ranked third in Strokes Gained: Putting, showcased a return to the form that made him a two-time major champion.
Novak, who matched Thomas’ 17-under with a final-round 68, earned $2.16 million for his runner-up finish. The top of the leaderboard was stacked, with Daniel Berger (65), Mackenzie Hughes (67), Brian Harman (69), and Maverick McNealy (70) tying for third at 14-under, and England’s Tommy Fleetwood (70) finishing seventh at 13-under. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler (70), the world No. 1, tied for eighth.
Thomas’ equipment, including a prototype Scotty Cameron putter, played a key role in his success. His ability to sink long putts, particularly in the playoff, underscored a significant improvement from last season, when he ranked 174th in putting.
Thomas’ victory adds his name to an illustrious list of Harbour Town champions, including Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
"I didn't realize how much I missed winning." 🙌
– Justin Thomas, 2025 RBC Heritage champion and now 16-time TOUR winner
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/memJZpYwNs
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) April 20, 2025
