Emotional Justin Thomas claims Players Championship; Shane Lowry finishes eighth

As a nice reward for his top-10 finishing form he found at the Players, Lowry went straight to Augusta National with Lee Westwood for two days of golf

SMILES BETTER: Justin Thomas got the better of Lee Westwood by a single stroke after a breathtaking weekend comeback. Picture: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

Through the first 32 holes of the Players Championship, Justin Thomas was over par and facing an early departure home. Then he did what he did better than anyone else — birdied a par-5.

His birdie on the 16th hole Friday got him back to the cut line, and he finished the week playing the par-5s on the TPC Stadium Course at a record-tying 14-under par — the same number he finished on to beat Lee Westwood by one stroke.