Justin Thomas and his dad share a favorite old memory
The 2009 Wyndham Championship was a long time ago. Still, Justin Thomas and his dad will always remember that event -- and for a good reason.
By
Kyle Porter
•
2 min read
Each day during US Open week, Kyle Porter explores a golfers' father-son relationship and how it shaped who he is as a person and a golfer. Monday: Justin Thomas in part one of a five-part series.
Alabama golf coach Jay Seawell explains Justin Thomas' relationship with his dad (and coach), Mike, perfectly.
"Mike gave him a … love of playing. He didn’t make him a lover of golf swings,” Seawell said. “Mike did a great job of making Justin love Nos. 1-18. He was always on the golf course, playing with his dad. I think the more you play, the more you value the score.”
The younger Thomas has been valuing top 10 finishes on the PGA Tour this. He's racked up five of them to go with 10 top 25s. He said part of his stability on the road is talking to his dad every day.
He also still says his coolest moment as a pro that he's shared with his dad was playing the Wyndham Championship in 2009 as a 16-year-old when he missed a third-round cut.
"I think the coolest thing for us was when he caddied for me at the Wyndham," Thomas told me recently. "That was pretty sweet. My first PGA Tour event and to make the cut and for him to be there. I think we'll always have that memory, for sure."
“I was bawling like a 12-year-old,” Mike said. “The fact that he took that much pride in what he was doing at 16 years old. I would’ve taken a couple bogeys and headed down the road."
It's Father's Day week so I asked Justin if he could have had his pops on the bag full-time (a nice-paying job, no doubt).
"We would have butted heads like any father-son would. I think we're a lot different also. We get along really well. I'm a pretty stubborn person, but at the same time I know he's just trying to help me when he's helping me with my golf swing. I think that's why we've done so well."
I joked with him that maybe his dad wouldn't have been "stolen" by Jordan Spieth like Michael Greller was.
"I would hope my dad wouldn't leave me for Jordan," said Thomas.
Thomas forges ahead as a 22-year-old in his first full season into the great unkown world of professional golf. He's navigating things just fine so far. He's made $1.4 million and is in the top 45 of the FedEx Cup rankings. All he lacks is a victory.
Unfortunately for him, he said his dream first win scenario has probably already passed him by. Besides the Masters, Thomas said he would picked the PGA Championship to get win No. 1.
"I really pushed for (dad) to be PGA of America President," he said. "It would have been cool for him to hand me the Wannamaker."
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