LostGolfBalls.com BLOG

Information and tips on everything golf ball related from the largest recycler of used golf balls in the world

It's been a tough few weeks for Justin Thomas

Read More →

Posts by Tag

see all
All Posts

It's been a tough few weeks for Justin Thomas

Justin-Thomas

Image Source: NY Post
 

When the world reacted to the car accident of Tiger Woods (Bridgestone Tour B XS), I couldn’t help but be moved by the thoughts and comments from his fellow players on the PGA Tour, in particular Justin Thomas (Titleist Pro V1x).

Thomas was clearly emotional when talking to the media before the start of Thursday’s WGC Workday Championship at The Concession.

“I’m sick to my stomach,” he said. “It hurts to see one of my closest friends get into an accident. Man, I just hope he’s all right. I just worry for his kids. I’m sure they will struggle.”

It’s been an emotional few weeks for Thomas. Early Sunday morning on February 8 on the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, his paternal grandfather, Paul Thomas, passed away at age 89. Justin decided to complete the tournament in which he was clearly in contention starting the round at 14-under par, shooting a 64 and a 65 the previous two days after opening with a 70, but posted a score of 1-over par and finished tied for 13th. He had a strained look on his face throughout the day. Whatever he was feeling was unknown because he didn’t speak to the media afterward. His father, Mike, was there and embraced his son while walking to the scorer’s tent.

Justin posted a tribute to his grandfather on Instagram a day later.

“Heaven got a good one yesterday,” he wrote. “Wish you were still here to tell me how many putts I missed on days like yesterday. Nobody’s voice would make me happier when I would hear it over the phone. Will love you and miss you, GP.”

He skipped the AT&T Pebble Beach tournament the next week and returned for the Genesis Invitational but failed to make the cut. If he was struggling emotionally and mentally, that would have been understandable, although there were several notable stars who didn’t qualify for the final 36 holes, including Rory McIlroy (TaylorMade TP5x), Bryson DeChambeau (Bridgestone Tour B XS), Bubba Watson (Titleist Pro V1x), Hideki Matsuyama (Srixon Z-Star XV) and Gary Woodland (Bridgestone Tour B X). The windy conditions, especially in the third round in which play was suspended for four hours and forced a carryover to Sunday, and the crazy greens played mind games with all the competitors. So, even the ones that made it through to the final were surviving on desperation and luck. Dustin Johnson (TaylorMade TP5x) never got untracked and was probably glad to leave.

Thomas wasn’t even around to see Woods make the trophy presentation to Max Homa (Titleist Pro V1), who idolized Tiger growing up. Homa created a lifelong memory winning on his home course. It couldn’t have worked out any better for Homa.

And then less than 48 hours the sports world and, to an even great extent, the world was stunned by Woods’ accident. Who knows if he will ever golf again because of the severe leg injuries he suffered?

Thomas had a solid second round in the WGC Workday Championship and is in red figures. If he wins, it will surely be emotional, likely the most of any tournament he’s even won, something to dedicate to his grandfather and his close friend.
Perry Lefko
Perry Lefko
Perry Lefko is an award-winning writer who has published nine books, three of them bestsellers. He has been involved in sports writing for more than 35 years and has interviewed many superstar athletes. He lives in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada and enjoys watching golf and playing it.

Related Posts

Genesis Invitational Gives Us The Reality Of Sports

I’ve written this before and I’m repeating it because it never ceases to amaze me how televised sports is the ultimate reality show, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat, as the now-defunct ABC Wild Word of Sports used as its intro. On the final hole of the Pebble Beach Open, Jacob Bridgeman (TaylorMade TP5x) was hitting a shot off of pebbles on the beach on the 18th hole. His ball ended up in the ocean and resulted in a bogey, tying him for eighth place when he was close enough starting the hole for a much better finish. I thought his spirits were crushed and dismissed him for the Genesis Invitational. So what does he do? Goes on a tear and headed into the final day, chasing a tournament record score. But he nearly frittered away the win, coming undone on the back half of the back nine and eking out a single stroke victory, and only because he parred a four-foot putt that must have seemed much longer because of the pressure. That’s drama, real drama, not manufactured reality. He won the event for the first time in his 66th tournament on the PGA Tour and only 65 days after marrying.

It's Time To Talk About Tiger Woods Again

Some thoughts on the world of golf with the Masters less than eight weeks away: When Tiger Woods (Bridgestone Tour B XS) speaks, we all listen. As the host of the Genesis Invitational this week, Woods held his annual address about his health, career, playing in the Masters and the PGA Tour at large. Woods is gradually returning to swinging his clubs from his latest back surgery last fall, which naturally had reporters asking him about his playing status. He did not specify when he will return to playing again, yet he tersely and emphatically did not rule out playing in the Masters. “No,” he said. Woods has always tried to play in the Masters, no matter his physical condition.

Chris Gotterup Making A Name For Himself

Who is Chris Gotterup (Bridgestone Tour B X), and why is he tearing it up early in the 2026 PGA Tour season? If you had asked golf fans heading into this year’s season, some may have known him and success he has had, but I don’t think there would be many who would say he was slated for a breakthrough season. But now the word is out: Not only is he a long-ball hitter off the tee and someone who can keep it in the fairway, but he also has a complete game and championship mettle. With two victories in only three tournaments in 2026, most recently last weekend beating two-time winner Hideki Matsuyama (Srixon Z-Star XV) in a playoff in the WM Phoenix Open, Gotterup is on a heater. Matsuyama, the tournament leader heading into the final round, was spraying his ball all over the course and was scrambling most of the day. Gotterup was quietly doing his own thing. In fact, while Scottie Scheffler (Titleist Pro V1) was making a serious run for the lead that just fell one shot short after a seven-under par, Gotterup was putting together a similar round. He had the tournament lead after round one with an eight-under par – Scheffler was just hoping to make the cut after opening two-under par – but shot one-under par in his next two rounds. Gotterup really turned it on in the final round. He was two-under after the front nine, but five-under on the back nine, including birdying five of the last six holes.