Justin Thomas hoping to close the gap for No. 1 in the world this week at Oakmont

Justin Thomas has seen the highs and lows of what playing on the PGA Tour can do to a golfer.

Over the past few years, a new beast has risen the top of the golf world, and he’s front and center on the mind of the tour’s top contenders.

Scottie Scheffler has held the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking for 141 weeks and shows no signs of relinquishing his reign. He seems to be playing his best golf of the year with wins in three of the past four events he has played — the Byron Nelson, PGA Championship and Memorial. He finished fourth at the Charles Schwab Challenge in that span, as well.

Going against Scheffler is no easy task, but Thomas is hoping he can catch up by focusing on what he does well.

“I’m sure some people will laugh, but if I can even catch him this year,” said Thomas, with a smile. “Win however many tournaments the rest of the year, and maybe Scottie doesn’t play or something.”

Thomas, a two-time major champion, has one win during the 2025 season at the RBC Heritage and is No. 5 in the world behind Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa.

“I obviously can’t do anything about what he’s doing, and he doesn’t seem to be showing any signs of slowing down or wanting to,” Thomas said.

Thomas credited Scheffler’s mental toughness as an advantage he has over other golfers, in addition to his steady physical game.

“I think his mental game is better than anybody out here,” Thomas said. “To be able to play with those expectations and to stay present as often as he has, to me, is maybe more impressive than even the golf he’s playing.”

Scheffler’s clutch performances at major tournaments also has stood out, Thomas said when highlighting how tough it has been to rise up to the top.

He cited McIlroy’s triumphant victory at The Masters and Schauffele’s wins at the PGA Championship and Open Championship.

Thomas’ last top-10 finish at a major came at last year’s PGA Championship, and he’s looking for a return to glory this week at a fast Oakmont course. To do that, he is working to stay in the moment this time around.

“I’m getting better at letting myself get into contention,” he said. “I feel like I was letting myself last year, but then, come Saturday, Sunday, I was forcing it and trying to win the tournament versus just playing and trusting and believing.”

Thomas will get his second chance to play at Oakmont Country Club, where he shot 8-over-par in the U.S. Open in 2016.

The Pittsburgh area has seen lots of rain over the past couple of days, and, after the practice round Monday, Thomas said the course was playable but certainly not easy.

“The greens still had a little bit of bounce to them,” he said. “They weren’t firm by any means, but they were still taking a hop with wedges and short irons still.”

With weather expected to dry up as the week progresses before the start of the tournament Thursday, conditions will be ever changing at Oakmont.

Thomas and the other top contenders will have to make adjustments as they continue to chase the No. 1 spot in the world and earn a spot for their name on the U.S. Open trophy.