Justin Thomas, Mr. Nice Guy, Hides Behind Brutal Stare
Justin Thomas is one of the PGA TOUR’s fiercest competitors, and as we’re learning, also one of the game’s legitimate nicest guys.
Raymond Floyd’s stare was always a 10 on the intimidation scale. It seemed he was shooting bazookas with his eyes. Even though he says it wasn’t designed to put fear into opponents, it did.
Tiger Woods had his own daunting glare on the golf course, and as hard as it is to believe, it was actually a notch down from Floyd, probably a 9. That look is missing since Woods has been out of competitive action, but should he return to competitive golf, no doubt it will be back.
Woods and Floyd are not the only golfers who can drill holes into opponents with their eyes. As we’ve seen this year, Justin Thomas has a pretty good glower of his own. Granted, it’s not in the Floyd category. It’s not even in the same class as the one Woods uses. Thomas’ looks-that-kill might be more like a 7.5. And, fortunately, we’ve discovered it’s not indicative of his personality.
It was a phone call that revealed it.
Thomas was mid-way through his press conference after winning the FedExCup. His cell phone rang. He looked at the assembled media and said, “My grandpa’s calling me….” He took the call. Everyone waited.
The conversation was short with Thomas letting his grandpa know where he was and what he was doing and promising a call back as soon as he was free of reporters.
Most of us have grandpas we like or liked, and so, we could understand. In that moment, Thomas went from being the gritty and tough competitor to a young man who didn’t mind letting the world know that his grandfather was important enough to stop everything for a few moments.
It was disarming and endearing, not that Thomas intended it to be either of those. He probably wants to be perceived as a hard-nosed guy, at least on the course, because he’s a fighter. And yet, before our eyes, Justin Thomas opened the floodgates and almost turned into a Jordan Spieth with thorough, polite and expansive answers to every question that made sense.
But now we know. Underneath that outer shell, there’s a soft center, someone with vulnerabilities he’s not embarrassed to discuss.
Justin Thomas credits relationship with caddie for growth
Thomas was quick to give credit for his recent success to his veteran caddie, Jimmy Johnson, for his success and for helping him with his emotions on the course.
“I owe him everything. I mean he’s such a big help this year. This year is as much his as it is mine,” Thomas said.
Thomas recited the six victories, the PGA Championship, participating in the Presidents Cup, becoming Player of The Year.
"“He’s been such a positive influence on me because he keeps me calm. He’s been in these situations, whereas before, I maybe wasn’t as comfortable because I hadn’t been there, and he had been so he knew what to say to keep me calm and keep me going,” Thomas explained."
Johnson was a caddie for Nick Price, winner of multiple majors, and for Steve Stricker, who had a late career resurgence after losing his game and then finding it again, becoming good enough to challenge Tiger Woods.
Thomas said he had been nervous at the Tour Championship, as nervous as he had been before the fourth round of the U.S. Open, and admitted he feared blowing up again. He credited Johnson for being a stabilizing influence, helping him play through it.
Friends, family as much of a motivator as trophies and money
While Thomas didn’t win the Tour Championship, his finish was higher than Jordan Spieth, and because of that, Thomas was able to secure the FedExCup. It was not easy, though. For a little while during the final round, Thomas and Spieth were tied for the lead.
"“I think I laughed when I saw it,” Thomas revealed. “I thought, honestly, this probably will happen, and the golf world will completely blow up and lose its mind if Jordan and I were in a playoff for the FedEx Cup. I don’t think anybody would have known what to do with themselves.”More from Pro Golf NowGolf Rumors: LIV set to sign Masters Champion in stunning dealFantasy Golf: Grant Thornton Invitational DFS Player SelectionsBrutal return leaves Will Zalatoris looking towards 2024Stars You Know at World Champions Cup Starts Thursday at ConcessionFantasy Golf: An Early Look at the 2024 Masters Tournament"
Rather than talking about what he was going to do with the money, he talked about how he never thought about the money. He talked about where he was going to take his trophies. He intended to share the victories with his friends in Florida – Tiger Woods included—his friends in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where he was in college, and in some of his favorite restaurants and bars. His father’s golf shop in Louisville, Kentucky is already decorated with victory memorabilia, but the PGA Championship and FedExCup trophies are sure to make at least a temporary appearance.
“Something I think about when I win a cool trophy is man, I get to take this to a place that I love, and they get to fill it up with whatever I want all night, and I get to enjoy it with them because those are people that have been great to me and people that I enjoy spending time with and people that I want to enjoy these moments with,” he explained, barely stopping for a breath.
"“I think that’s something that’s underrated, but really fun part of the process that we have and the things that we do, is getting to enjoy moments like this and getting to enjoy trophies and major championships and whatever it may be with our closest friends and the people we love the most.”"
Wow. Nobody ever says that.
So the next time you see Justin Thomas staring down his opponents, getting a little Raymond Floyd or Tiger Woods intimidation going, remember, competing is what he loves to do. And after he’s done playing, he’s a pretty good guy, which is high praise in golf. In addition, he has learned to do as Walter Hagen once said, stop and smell the roses along the way.
Who can root against a someone like that? Not me.