I would say the most help I ever gave him was playing with him and talking to him. The former PGA professional worked long hours as a teaching pro at a golf course in Kentucky during Justin's childhood. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. DUBLIN, Ohio -- Justin Thomas' caddie left on the back nine of his third round at the Memorial on Saturday. He said, His dad nor I really pushed [Justin]. Justin Thomas' caddie falls ill, father takes over at Memorial By MIKE WELLS July 18, 2020, 2:29 PM DUBLIN, Ohio -- Justin Thomas ' caddie left on the back I mean, he was hard on himself, so its only natural he was going to be hard on his students. Instead, he is relaxingas best he canat home in South Florida, having to be content watching it on television. He's a perennial member of U.S. Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams, with 14 PGA Tour wins under his belt. Justin remembered back to hitting balls all day at Harmony Landing Country Club in Goshen, Kentucky, waiting for his father to get done teaching at the club so they could play nine holes together. All registered. Mike is currently fine and kicking. He has been a regular contributor for TODAY.com since 2011, producing news stories and features across the trending, pop culture, sports, parents, pets, health, style, food and TMRW verticals. "I lost my dad when I was 5 years old, and everything about life that I've learned, everything that I am as a man now, is with my dad on the golf course. Justin Thomas, right, and Jim Bones Mackay Getty Images The PGA victory was the second for Thomas and Mackay as a team, and the first major. "Im 29, and it still happens from time to time.". "Because my dads my coach and sometimes he can get me a little mad kind of always giving me pointers.". "Jimmy [Johnson] just wasn't feeling well," Thomas said. While Justin did not speak to reporters Brooks Koepka's win Sunday in Phoenix came after nearly two injury-riddled years during which Koepka wondered if he'd ever return to his elite form. It wont really hit me that its Fathers Day. You know how us guys are. Mike Thomas doubles as the father and coach of Justin Thomas one of the worlds most successful golfers in recent times. Another place they have bonded is the golf course. Theres a poignant reason for the approach Mike Thomas took in Justins life: Mikes late father, Paul, also a lifelong club pro, whom Justin affectionately called G-Pa.. By the age of nine I had been playing golf for seven years, at that point, he says in the video below. Thomas' father, Mike, put his arm around his son, but words did not seem adequate or necessary. Golf star Justin Thomas and his dad and coach Mike Thomas join TODAYs Carson Daly and his son Jackson to talk about fond memories of growing up on the golf He also can talk to his son, and they have traded phone calls frequently. "Something my dad hammered down my throat is just to enjoy what youre doing," he added. Scott Stump is a staff reporter and the writer of the daily newsletter This is TODAY. He would finish the round shooting a one-over 72 to come in T-13, six back of Koepka. Nobodys voice would make me happier when I would hear it over the phone. His closing 1-over 72 left him six back of Phoenix Open winner Brooks Koepka. Type above and press Enter to search. I knew what theyre feeling because I went through it. We more or less answered questions. That had a great influence on me to do the opposite with Justin, because I know I didnt enjoy that very much and I never wanted Justin to feel the way I did. In addition, they will hope to defend their title at this years edition of the challenge as theyre a part of the field at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. But for Mike Thomas, every day is fathers day. By signing up, you agree to the And fortunate that he will get to continue to ride along. Any impact I can have on the round was taken care of this morning.. A battery of tests revealed nothing out of order, but a CT scan found the clot. In fact, during Justins second year on the PGA Tour, Mike sat him down in Phoenix and asked him: Am I out here too much? It's free. His son Justin has been performing at very high levels at this years PGA Tour and is set to have one of the best seasons in his career. The PGA Tour is set to reveal the remaining tournaments that will receive elevated status next season. Did Dan Skipper play college football? Copyright 2023 InsideHook. And awesome. Golf Channel reported during the early part of its Sunday broadcast that Thomas paternal grandfather, Paul Thomas, had died at 89. But yeah, I mean, in a couple weeks or one day, nobody will remember it. I dont watch much TV, because Im usually at the event, but this is about all I can do, said the long-time PGA Master Professional. Heres Where to Eat. Where did Dan Skipper go to college? Notably, at the 2020 PNC Championship, the father-son duo emerged victorious at the 20-team event, topping the leaderboard by one stroke. I mean, I can tell he was light-headed and just didn't have a lot of energy. Golf Channel reported during the early part of its Sunday broadcast that Thomas paternal grandfather, Paul Thomas, had died at 89. Justin is a professional golfer who is taught by his father at Goshen, Kentuck Harmony Landin Country Club. Inside Jimmy Carter and Rosalynn Carter marriage, Sulley Muntari, Agyeman Badu, Asamoah Gyan, others visit Christian Atsus family home, VIDEO: Government will be fully involved in providing Christian Atsu a befitting burial Dr. Bawumia, Christian Atsus mortal remains arrive in Ghana via Turkish Airlines, Maybe I created enemies along the line Kofi Amoabeng on UT Banks collapse, Christian Atsu was one of Ghanas finest personnel Akufo-Addo, This is some food chain story Archipalago shamed for chasing clout with Christian Atsus death. Justin recently celebrated his father's 89th birthday, which will occur on October 15, 2021. 2023 Ghanafuo.com & DM Network. Then theres Thomas father, Mike, whos his swing coach and has been since he was a kid. Im his friend first, his coach second and his father last.. Mike Thomas is the only swing coach Justin has ever had, and that dynamic has been working quite well, based on the 14 PGA Tour wins, including one major championship and this years Players Championship, Justin has already at age 28. Justin Thomas of the United States and his father and caddie Mike Thomas look on from the 18th tee during the third round of The Memorial Tournament on July 18, 2020. Im lucky they found it, said Mike, who turns 62 next month. Mike Thomas is a star golfer and with that, he is also the father of Justin Thomas. Did Mario DeAngelis go to film school? Quite honestly, my late dad would admit that he was very, very hard on me. What do you do if youre a professional golfer and your caddie falls ill during a round? Although not exactly young, he is still actively playing the sport. Editor at Ghanafuo.com! At first he thought it was pleurisy. He was very old-school, Mike said of his father, who died at age 89 in February. Where did Mario DeAngelis go to college and high school? For the first time in maybe four years Thomas isnt part of his sons gallery at a tournament. a keen interest in sports and fitness. Tiger Woods apologises for any offence he caused by handing Justin Thomas a tampon after outdriving his playing partner at the Genesis Invitational. "I mean, yeah, it sucks because I really was playing well. Thats about it.. Subscribe herefor our free daily newsletter. "They were pretty fierce battles a lot of competitiveness going on.". 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His round got off to a slow start with pars on the first five holes before a costly double-bogey 6 on the sixth made a comeback all but impossible. Here is everything about Mike's Wikipedia and family. "He was feeling dizzy. We havent really discussed this. Curious About J.Crews Viral Giant-Fit Chinos? Series of tests revealed nothing unusual, but a CT scan revealed the clot. Rahm sought Tiger's advice on staying No. "The adjustment was fine," Thomas said. THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2023 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Ryder Cup 2021: Justin Thomas' father, Mike, recovering from health scare. Mike looked surprisingly relaxed as he followed Justins round on Saturday, quietly hanging out with family and friends while sipping a can of cold beer. I can hit a few pitching wedges on the range. Mike is married to Jani Thomas and the two are on their journey to complete a whopping 33 years in December 2021. Wish you were still here to tell me how many putts I missed on days like yesterday! 9 awesome photos of Justin Thomas celebrating the PGA Championship win with his dad and fiancee Charles Curtis May 22, 2022 8:55 pm ET Justin Thomas is a two-time major winner now. Yeah, its killing me not be there, Thomas said by phone with a voice that was softer than usual. If youre Justin Thomas at the Memorial Tournament, you just have your dad, Mike Thomas, sub in and carry your bag for you for the rest of the day. Sign up for our daily newsletter and be in the know. ", Justin Thomas' dad takes over after caddie falls ill, Here's everything you missed this week in professional golf. Justin Thomas smiles with his father Mike during practice for the BMW Championship in August. Justin added that his father Mike had been traveling nonstop for eight weeks prior to the event, including trips to England for the Open Championship and Japan for the Olympics, and that two weeks after his trip he started experiencing constant pain in his left side. A post shared by Mike Thomas (@mikethomaspga) He said, His dad nor I really pushed [Justin]. Thomas showed his character with a recent act of kindness and compassion at the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, where he quietly handed a check to journeyman mini-tour player Mike Visacki to help him pay expenses to keep his dream alive. "He was feeling dizzy. Based on the evidence Justin Thomas has given us in the very public life he leads as a star in his sport, Mike and his wife, Jani, have raised a young man who tries to do the right thing. Just like Carson, a longtime golf fanatic, who serves as Jackson's coach on the course, Justin has been coached his entire life by his father, Mike. He still competed occasionally, making three career cuts in the U.S. Senior Open. ", Jackson not only looks like Carsons mini-me, he also shares a passion for broadcasting with his dad. But it didnt matter; Thomas mind and heart were elsewhere. 2021 PNC Championship Round 1: Team Woods Off to a Positive Start; Team Daly, ORLANDO, Fla. Tiger Woods hasnt yet hit a shot at the 2021 PNC Championship but the hype arrived before he did. Justin Thomas made an epic comeback to win his second major championship. I didn't make those bogeys because my dad was caddying; it was just poor execution. He spent the majority of his teaching career at Zanesville Country Club in Ohio, where he worked for 26 years. It was tough advice to hear, Thomas said, but he took it to heart. Mike Thomas had a blood clot in his lung a condition known as pulmonary embolism. Just like Carson has done with Jackson, Mike impressed on Justin at an early age that his worth isn't measured by his scores on a golf course. The one thing I tried to instill in him was confidence, telling him he could be a good player. Justin Thomas didnt leave TPC Scottsdale on Sunday with a victory. Thomas said. Privacy Policy. Thomas, who shot a 1-under 35 on the front nine, struggled on the back, shooting a 4-over 40 to finish his round with a 75. Thats when he was rushed to the hospital for treatment. He was feeling dizzy. IE 11 is not supported. I mean, I told him on 12 that if he needed to leave, he needed to leave. He would take over the head professional post at Zanesville Country Club, about 50 miles east of Columbus, in 1963 and would work there for 26 years. The course is very difficult, and I just -- yeah, just made a bad double and had a rough finish. His father Mike Thomas is a a second-generation Club Professional and has been a PGA Professional News, advice and insights for the most interesting man in the room. But the timing of this is horrible., MORE: JT showed he can take a punch, and delivered a blow to Europe in the process. In the next breath he notes that he is lucky to be alive. First Time in Miami? MORE: Justin Thomas has some valid concerns about fans betting on golf. Its I mean, I told him on 12 that if he needed to leave, he needed to leave. Theres a poignant reason for the approach Mike Thomas took in Justins life: Mikes late father, Paul, also a lifelong club pro, whom Justin affectionately called G I told him on 12 that if he needed to leave, he needed to leave. Get InsideHook in your inbox. and For the first time in maybe four years Thomas isnt part of his sons gallery at a tournament. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Justin Thomas was born on April 29th, 1993 in Louisville, Kentucky, to Mike Thomas and Jani Thomas. Paul was on hand to witness Justins win at the 2018 WGC-Bridgestone, one of Justins now 14 worldwide wins as a pro. Hes not just the father of a world-class golfer, hes also the son of one Paul Thomas, a lifelong teaching pro in Ohio who made the cut in the 1960 PGA All rights reserved. Id tell him, The only guy who can screw this up is you. I think we know now that hes done all right.. Visacki had Monday-qualified for the Valspar in March and was captured on video calling his father in tears to tell him hed gotten into the field. Mike Thomas is a retired professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour. Coming off eight straight weeks of travel, including to England for the Open Championship and Japan for the Olympics, the elder Thomas two weeks ago felt a constant pain in his left side. Not only his father but also his sons teacher, Mike was diagnosed the Tuesday prior to Ryder Cup week with a blood clot in his lung (pulmonary embolism) and is restricted from traveling, or doing much else, for at least a month. 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