The Players Championship is underway this week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. Justin Thomas is hoping to experience success, but also improve his demeanor on the course.

Thomas used a homophobic slur after missing a putt at the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii back in January.

The former PGA Championship winner said he has tried to show awareness and absorb the hurtful nature of his words. But he also admitted he has not been as in tune with his golf game since the incident:

“I have definitely been better,’’ Justin Thomas said ahead of The Players Championship, via the New York Post. “But at the same time, it’s a good opportunity for me to try to grow and learn and get stronger because of it. It has kind of put a lot of things into perspective, and unfortunately for my golf, it’s taken a toll on that a little bit.

“I haven’t been and I’m not playing as well as I’d like. But I’ve been working and kind of tweaking things here and there, just trying to figure out kind of what’s going on.’’

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The backlash to Thomas' use of the slur was immediate. He lost sponsorships from the likes of Ralph Lauren, and was exposed to ample criticism.

Justin Thomas has sputtered just a bit in recent starts. A final round of 72 took him out of contention at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He shockingly missed the cut at the Genesis Invitational at Riviera, then had to grind to a top-15 finish at WGC-Workday at Concession.

The former Alabama product likely hopes the golf game will click into place at TPC Sawgrass this week. But it appears Thomas is every bit as intent on having a better attitude and being a better role model on the course.