NAPA, Calif. – Justin Thomas quickly realized it wouldn’t be his day.

 

NAPA, Calif. – Justin Thomas quickly realized it wouldn’t be his day.

He began the final round of the Fortinet Championship two shots back. By the time he finished his fifth hole Sunday, he trailed Sahith Theegala by seven.

Disappointing, yes. Given where Thomas has been, and what’s ahead, it was a step in the right direction.

“I’m excited and happy about where my game is going,” Thomas told PGATOUR.COM after a final-round 72. He finished solo-fifth at 15 under.

Thomas carded a clean back nine after four bogeys and just one birdie on the front nine Sunday. He holed a 26-footer for eagle on the par-5 12th and birdied the par-5 18th to end the day at even par.

It wasn’t enough to threaten the lead. Theegala’s final-round 68 assured that. Still, it was a success. This was Thomas’ first start since finishing No. 71 to miss the FedExCup Playoffs for the first time in his career. And it was his first top 5 finish since a solo fourth at the WM Phoenix Open in February.