Thomas knows what it takes
Even though his stint atop the Official World Golf Rankings lasted only a month, Justin Thomas has proven himself to be a worthy No 1 in every sense.
At 25, Thomas is the reigning FedExCup champion, an eight-time PGA Tour winner and holder of one major title. He’s shot the magical 59 once and is a fan favorite.
Thomas counts celebrities like Michael Jordan, Steph Curry, Tiger Woods, Kid Rock and Justin Timberland among his buddies, and he’s played golf with President Donald Trump.
Despite his rise to fame and fortune — Thomas has earned over $22 million in prize money in a little over three years — he’s kept both feet firmly on the ground.
Ironically, that’s in sharp contrast to his dynamic swing, which sees him almost tip-toe on his right foot at the point of impact. The power he generates propels the ball to incredible distances for a guy who’s just 5foot-7 and 145 pounds.
The son of a PGA teaching pro, Thomas became the fourth youngest world No 1 after Woods, Rory McIlroy and Spieth in mid-May, thanks to an 11th-place finish at The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament.
Such was the thrill of seeing his name above everyone else that he stayed up late into the evening, waiting eagerly for the world rankings website to refresh.
“I saw it and it was pretty cool. Seeing every other golfer in the world behind my name was a pretty fun thing,” said Thomas.
“It means a lot, but it’s something I want to have for a long time — like DJ (Dustin Johnson) has and like Tiger did and other guys who have had it for a long time.
“I would much rather play well for another eight to 10 years and see how long I can have it.”
Power-hitter Johnson swiftly regained his top ranking with an 18th PGA Tour victory at the FedEx St. Jude Classic in June, but it’s certain Thomas will be fired up to challenge for the mantle again.
Asian golf fans, in particular those in Malaysia, have been fortunate to witness Thomas announce his arrival on the big stage. He claimed his breakthrough PGA Tour title at the CIMB Classic at TPC Kuala Lumpur in 2015 and returned 12 months later to repeat as champion.
His second title in Malaysia also provided the launchpad for a stunning 2016-17 campaign that saw him win four other tournaments, including a first major at the PGA Championship and culminating with the prestigious FedExCup crown and Player of the Year honors.
From initially displaying raw talent and tenacity — he’d bounced back from a double bogey with three straight birdies on the back nine to win by one from Adam Scott in Malaysia in 2015 — to soaking up advice from Jack Nicklaus, who told him it pays to play conservatively when he does not have his ‘A’ game on given weeks, Thomas has become a nearcomplete golfer.
His scorecard this season makes impressive reading, with a victory at the Honda Classic in February, four top10s, four other top-20s and not a single missed cut from 13 starts.
He is also intent on chasing a small slice of golf history as no FedExCup champion has repeated, not even Woods during his dominant years.
“That is something I would like to do,” Thomas said.
Woods, a 14-time major winner, spent a record 683 weeks atop the world rankings before being dethroned in 2014, and Johnson’s reign lasted 64 weeks.
As it turned out, Thomas’ first reign was short-lived but the world rankings are so bunched up right now that they can change quickly.
It looks all but certain that Thomas is destined to become one of golf’s greats. Despite his celebrity status, he remains the guy next door — humble, approachable, helpful and respectful. Otherwise, why would he even respond to a fan’s request via Instagram to help in a marriage proposal?
“It all worked out great,” said Thomas, who helped Sean Powell pop the question to Andrea Cota in an elaborate scheme during the Wells Fargo Championship.
Whether Thomas becomes Cota’s best man at the wedding next summer, he has surely proven he is No 1 no matter which way you look at him. The writer is senior communications director of the PGA Tour and is based in TPC Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He can be reached at chuahcc@pgatourintl.com.my