Justin Thomas had six-word message for Viktor Hovland after brutal finish extends PGA Tour drought

Justin Thomas looked set to win his first PGA Tour title in almost three years at the Valspar Championship, but the two-time major champion was pipped by Viktor Hovland

Justin Thomas took the time to congratulate Viktor Hovland after losing out to his PGA Tour rival at the Valspar Championship on Sunday.

Thomas looked set to win his first title since clinching the PGA Championship in 2022, leading the event at Copperhead by two shots with just three holes to play. A group of errors cost him down the final stretch though, bogeying the 16th and 18th to finish on 10-under-par for the week.

Hovland meanwhile took full advantage, making back-to-back birdies on the 16th and 17th to claw ahead of Thomas, who saw his name fall from top spot at the most crucial time. Even a bogey at the 72nd hole proved enough for Hovland, as he secured the seventh PGA Tour title of his career, winning by one shot. It will have been tough to take for Thomas, who was gunning to end his wait for a 16th PGA Tour crown, having gone winless throughout 2023 and 2024.

Despite this, he was all class in the aftermath of defeat, telling Hovland: “Well done, see you at Augusta,” whilst the Norweigan was marking his winning scorecard. Speaking on the back of his fourth round, Thomas once again aimed to remain upbeat, with the world No. 9 taking plenty of positives from his runner-up finish.

“I’ll take a lot of good,” Thomas told reporters. “Way, way more good than bad. I mean, today was awesome. I felt so comfortable. I felt like the only nervy swing I truly felt was the wedge on 16. That was the only one I felt was it was just, I was uncomfortable a little bit and kind of in the moment.

“But I rebounded really well with a nice bunker shot and a nice putt. One of my best swings of the day with a 5-iron on 17, and somehow that putt didn’t go in on 17 as well. So I’m very, very proud of myself. It sucks not winning when you’re that close and have a great chance.

“I just hopefully put myself in the same position in two weeks at Augusta and finish it off better.” Like Thomas, Hovland too headed into the tournament on somewhat of a dry patch compared to his usually high standards in years gone by.