Thomas wins $10M from FedEx Cup and forgets about it

NASSAU, BAHAMAS » Justin Thomas walked away with the richest payoff in golf when he was runnerup at the Tour Championship and captured the FedEx Cup. With the $10 million bonus, he made $10,945,000 that day.

And then he forgot about it.

Thomas said he was at the Presidents Cup the following week when Kevin Chappell said to him, “You get it yet?”

Thomas didn’t know what he was talking about.

“He said, ‘Did you get the bonus?’ I never even thought about it,” Thomas said. “I asked my dad to look and was like, ‘Oh, there it is.”’

What does a 24-year-old do with such a bonus?

“I maybe got a little nicer bottle of wine at dinner a couple of times,” Thomas said.

But he was generous with others. When he arrived at Albany Golf Club for the Hero World Challenge, Thomas gave caddie Jimmy Johnson a small white box. Inside was a Rolex Pearlmaster watch.

“I just wanted to do something to thank the team,” Thomas said. “He’s done a lot, and he continues to do a lot. I wanted to show that with something for him.”

Engraved on the watch was a message: “Thanks for a great 2016-17. JT.”

MASTERS SETUP: Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley found his first replacement. Jim Hyler is taking over as chairman of the competition committees all and rules committee for the Masters.

That’s the role that Ridley held for 10 years until Billy Payne retired as club chairman and picked Ridley as his replacement.

“Having handled this important assignment for many years, I am aware of its necessary qualifications and, therefore, very proud to name Jim as my successor,” Ridley said. “He is uniquely qualified to serve the tournament in this position, given his background and previous experience assisting in the successful conduct of our competition.”

Hyler and Ridley are both former USGA presidents.

WAITING GAME: Patrick Reed’s wife has been reminding him to concentrate on his golf this week at the Hero World Challenge.

And she’s the one at home in Houston days away from giving birth.

Reed and his wife, Justine, are expecting their second child. The due date is Wednesday.

“It’s kind of a waiting game,” Reed said. “I’m really excited. Can’t wait for him to be here.”

Reed, a member of the PGA Tour and the European Tour, is not one to miss golf tournaments. He already has played 32 official events this year, not including the Presidents Cup. He hasn’t taken more than two weeks off all year, and he didn’t see any need to miss this one with his wife not due to give birth until Wednesday.

“She keeps reminding me that there’s golf to be played,” Reed said.