For those who understandably may not have been paying much attention to the pro golf tour while the collegiate and NFL playoffs heated up, there’s a head-turning new star who has taken the game by storm.
Justin Thomas, in only his fourth season on the PGA Tour, looks like he’s got the game to make the same kind of impact Jordan Spieth did two years ago.
While Clemson was stunning Alabama and the Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was again proving he is clueless at clock management, Thomas overpowered his PGA peers in Hawaii.
An Alabama grad, who was sulking over his team coming up short last week, Thomas authored back-to-back mind-blowing performances. Delivering a literal tsunami of 51 birdies, he won the SAS Tournament of Champions by three strokes and drowned the field by seven shots at the Sony Open.
It was the first time anyone has swept the two Hawaii events since Ernie Els in 2003.
“I felt like we were all playing for second place,” said Spieth, of his good friend’s domination last week on the Big Island. “The floodgates could be about to open for him.”
Thomas opened the Sony with the seventh round of 59 in PGA Tour history, then followed with rounds of 64-65-65 for an all-time PGA Tour record low of 27-under par 253. His 59 tied the record for best opening round, his 123 was a 36-hole record and his 188 tied the mark for 54 holes.
Yes, Waialae Country Club, site of the Sony, is a pushover by tour standards, but nobody ever got close to Thomas. The way he blew everybody in the field away brought to mind the Jack Nicklaus line on Tiger Woods — “He’s playing a game with which I am not familiar.”
Thomas’ exploits reverberated all the way to Las Vegas where the odds on him winning the Masters dropped from 125-to-1, to 80-to-1 to 25-to-1.
Meanwhile, a young player who had won only once prior to last October, has now grabbed three titles in his past five starts, and soared to No. 8 in the world rankings.
The NFL retakes the spotlight this weekend with AFC and NFC championships, and Thomas taking the week off, but notice has been served.
This PGA Tour, with Thomas added to the likes of big-name stars like Jason Day, Rory McIlory, Dustin Johnson and Ricky Fowler, and Tiger Woods making a comeback, is in position to sizzle through the spring and summer.

CHIP SHOTS

Jerry Honza, executive director of the Texas-Louisiana Junior Winter Tour is elated over the early response to the five tournament series that kicks off Saturday at Bayou Din.
“We have already had 55 players sign up for this week,” Honza said on Tuesday. “That’s the most we’ve ever had for a winter tour event. It is really encouraging to see that kind of interest.” …
In the Tuesday twister two ball at Babe Zaharias, the team of Roddy Weatherly, Cap Hollier, Raymond Darbonne and Dillard Darbonne won the front in minus-three and tied the back at even par. Also at even on the back was the foursome of Bob West, Rick Pritchett, Don MacNeil and E.T. Robicheaux …
The Monday Senior 50 Plus Game at Zaharias was also played in a best two-ball format. On the front the team of Gary Whitfill, Larry Johnson, Mike Hollier and Paul Duplantis won at minus-5. The back went to the team of West, Bob Byerly, MacNeil and Walter Colvin with minus-1.
In the Super Saturday Game at Zaharias, also a two ball, the team of Javier Torres, Vincent Barajas, Lee Bertrand and Cole Lee prevailed with minus-6.
Minus four won the back for the team of John Williams, Bill Hammond and Hollier.
The Friday two-ball had the team of Bob Wactor, Earl Richard, Bill Jones and Jim Mercer taking the front in minus-4. That was also the winning score on the back for the team of Williams, Hollier, Robicheaux and Ragan Najira.
A 6-6-6 with flighted two-man teams was the format for the Thursday Senior 55 Plus Game at Zaharias. There was a tie at 69 in First Flight between the team of Mike Lansford-Harrell Guidry and West-Larry Stansbury.
In Second Flight, Larry Johnson-Larry Reece won with 70. Third Flight went to Harry Green-Gene Hardy with a 71. Ron Overstreet-Larry Rogers took Fourth Flight with a 78.
Closest to the pin winners were Ray Gallier (No. 2), Dillard Darbonne (No. 7), Hardy (No. 12) and Ron Mistrot (No. 15.)
The Wednesday Babe Zaharias DogFight had a heartwarming story of sorts. Charlie Huckaby — Huck to golfers at Zaharias — returned from a lengthy chemotherapy ordeal for bone and live cancer to play for the first time since Oct. 1.
Huck not only played, he spearheaded the winning team to 19 points with several clutch putts. Along for the ride, and to cheer him on, were Larry Foster, Richard Menchaca and West.
Closest to the pin winners were Bim Morrow (No. 2), Whitfill (No. 7), West (No. 12) and Russ Gloede (No. 15).
First outside tournament of the year at Zaharias — The Nederland Heritage Festival Two Person Scramble — is set for March 4. It is contested with flights determined by the low handicap and has an 8 a.m. shotgun start.
Entry fee is $20 per player over and above cart and greens fees. All the entry fee money goes into the prize fund. Call 722-8286 for more information.
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