Eight-win season possible: Thomas, DJ

Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas say the only way they can top their hot 2017 seasons is by producing a Tiger Woods-like year.

Justin Thomas and Dustin Johnson both believe they are capable of Tiger Woods-like dominance as they look to extend their hot form into 2018, starting at this week's Tournament of Champions.

Thomas returns to Kapalua's Plantation course fuelled by the memory of winning both events of the US PGA Tour's Hawaii swing a year ago.

The 24-year-old's breakout 2017 season, which featured a maiden major title among five US tour victories and the $US10 million FedEx Cup title, began with a three-shot triumph at the 30-man Tournament of Champions on Maui.

Discussing how he could top his PGA Tour Player of the Year performance, world No.3 Thomas felt a season with eight or more wins was not out of the question.

It is feat only achieved four times in the last 43 years, with three of those coming from 14-time major winner Woods.

"There are a handful of guys that are capable of a huge-win season like that. I do (feel capable), but I don't know if I ever will," Thomas said.

"Tiger, obviously did it but I think he's in another realm when it comes to that conversation."

World No.1 Johnson enjoyed one less victory than Thomas in 2017, but took golf's top spot from Australian Jason Day in February and hasn't looked back.

The 33-year-old veteran has 16 wins on tour and has won at least one event every season since his rookie year in 2008.

The tall, big-hitting Johnson says his game is also good enough to produce eight wins in a season.

"I definitely think I can," Johnson said.

"Obviously I'm going to have to play very good golf. There's a lot of really good players out here on tour and for me to do that I'm going to have to play some really good golf, but I'm definitely capable of it."

The Tournament of Champions is an elite, 30-man event for winners from the previous US tour season.

Seven of the world's top-10 golfers will tee up at Kapalua's Plantation course, including three-time major winner Jordan Spieth, Jon Rahm, Hideki Matsuyama, Rickie Fowler and US Open champion Brooks Koepka.


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Source: AAP


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