Thomas, a Louisville area native, has only played Valhalla 10 to 15 times, though he says its layout lends to bunched boards.
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JustinThomashasn’tplayedValhallaGolfClubasmuchaspeoplewouldthink.Probably10to15times,saysThomas,aLouisvillenativewhocuthisteethasakidatHarmonyLanding,innearbyGoshen,wherehisdad,Mike,wastheheadpro.
“WhenIplayedlastSunday,Iwassayingtomydad,Idon’tthinkI’vebeenouthereineightor10years,”Thomassaid,beforelateradding,“Thecoursehasn’tchangedtoomuchfromwhatIremember.It’sallveryrightinfrontofyou.Youjusthitadriverreallyfarandreallystraightandhityourironswell.Thatseemstobethethemehere.”
It’sthattheme,Thomasargues,thathelpsexplainwhyValhallahasdeliveredsomelatedramaineachofthepreviousthreePGAChampionshipsthatithashosted.
In2014,RoryMcIlroywonbyashotwhilethreeplayersfinishedwithintwoshots.In2000,TigerWoodsandBobMayracedaheadofthepack,thoughtheyneededaplayofftodecidethewinner,ultimatelyWoods.Andin1996,MarkBrookstoppedKentuckianKennyPerryinextraholeswhil
