Justin Thomas crushed Waialae most of the week. When he wasn’t, he managed it to near-perfection.

His next task is to manage expectations while continuing to ride his record-setting wave of success.

The runaway winner of the Sony Open in Hawaii and only golfer to sweep the island swing since Ernie Els 14 years ago knows his game won’t stay this hot forever.

No one’s does.

“Just blocking out everything, a lot of the things I hear,” Thomas said minutes after sinking the birdie putt on No. 18 that completed the lowest-scoring four-round tournament in PGA Tour history. “I understand that … looking at guys like Rory (McIlroy) or Jordan (Spieth), Jason Day, they go out there and they finish 10th a couple of events in a row and then finish 20th, everyone is like, ‘What’s wrong with them?’ I don’t know if I’m to that point yet or when or where it will happen or whatever. That’s the kind of stuff you’ve just got to block out.”

Part of Thomas would love to tee it up again as soon as possible, like at this week’s CareerBuilder tourney in La Quinta, Calif. But another part knows rest is good, even when you’ve got the ridiculous momentum of 49-under par the past two weeks.

The last time the fourth-year pro from Louisville won consecutive tournaments was in college at Alabama — SEC championships and NCAA regionals. But that wasn’t back-to-back weeks like now.

“I was playing last week and then I just got on a plane and came here, and I started a tournament three days later,” he said. “It hasn’t hit me yet. I’m sure it will on this long travel day home I have coming up.”

He’s scheduled to return to action Feb. 2 at the Phoenix Open. And Thomas is already thinking about another tournament in April. It’s been on his mind for quite a while now.

“I’m so excited for the Masters,” Thomas said Sunday, repeating a sentiment he expressed at the end of last season. “I feel like it’s a course that’s really good for my game.”

Russell Henley — who finished 38th and until Sunday held the tournament record of 24-under par — said similar things in 2013 immediately after his victory here in his PGA Tour debut.

Henley, who is from Macon, Ga., then missed the cut at the Masters in his debut that year, but has since tied for 31st and finished 21st at Augusta.

Thomas, 23, is the same age Henley was as a rookie four years ago. Thomas turned pro in 2013, too, and has been making cuts at PGA events since he was in high school. He did so at all four majors last year, including 39th at the Masters.

With his fourth Tour victory, could Thomas be emerging from the shadow of his Masters (and U.S. Open) winning best friend, Jordan Spieth?

Thomas hopes he can keep his momentum going into the spring and prove he is a truly great player and not just a good player who enjoyed a hot hand in Hawaii. But the only thing anyone knows is there are no guarantees.

“I have no idea,” he said. “That’s the thing about this game. You can play well for two months and not have anything to show for it, not a top five or anything like that. Obviously I don’t plan on doing that. You just don’t know with this game. I’m going to continue to work at it and continue to work on the things I need to work on and just my whole game and stay rested.”

Thomas could be in for much more success if the year the only other player to sweep here went on to have is any indication.

Els had seven top 10s, but didn’t win again on the PGA Tour in 2003. However, the two-time U.S. Open champ enjoyed the first of consecutive years as No. 1 on the European Tour, where he won four times.

Els was 33 and at the peak of his career.

But, as the PGA’s newest star reminded us this week in the middle of his Waialae blitz, age ain’t nuthin’ but a number.

Just like 253 — Justin Thomas’ record-smashing score at the Sony Open in Hawaii.

Reach Dave Reardon at dreardon@staradvertiser.com or 529-4783. His blog is at Hawaiiwarriorworld.com/quick-reads.