PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — About three months before Justin Thomas had his big end to a great year, he sought some advice from Rory McIlroy. McIlroy was honest, as always, and showed just how much he pays attention. Thomas missed the 54-hole cut at The Players Championship with a 79 in the third round, but it was his scorecard at the end of the first round and start of the second round that illustrated some of his issues. He had a 19-hole stretch that he played in even par — despite making only one par. Starting on the 12th hole of the first round, he went birdie-bogey-bogey-bogey-eagle-birdie-bogey to cap off a 73.