Thomas inspired by grandparents
ST. LOUIS – Justin Thomas was warming up on the driving range before the third round of last week’s World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational when he was surprised to see a familiar face.
“He cracks me up,” Thomas said of Paul Thomas, his 86-year-old grandfather, who was looking on at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. “He just showed up on the range today. I have no idea how he got in.”
Thomas wasn’t totally surprised, seeing as he knew his grandpa and grandma, Phyllis, were at the tournament. The day before, he watched his grandfather have a breakfast of champions — ice cream and a Dr. Pepper.
“I love spending time with my grandma and grandpa. They crack me up just listening to them talk,” Thomas said. “So, it’s cool having them here and it would be really, really special to win with them here.”
He did. In an authoritative manner, and as his grandparents walked along — grandpa with a cane and grandma with a walker — Thomas dusted a loaded field at tough and hilly Firestone to win by four, an ideal prep for his title defense in the 100th PGA Championship starting Thursday at Bellerive Country Club.
Greeting him behind the 18th green were his grandparents and parents, Mike and Jani. It was an emotional time for Thomas, who has won eight tournaments since the start of the 2016-17 season and is No. 2 in the world. It was the first time his grandparents saw him win in person on the PGA Tour.
And the victory came 58 years after Paul Thomas, a career club professional, played Firestone and made the 36-hole cut in the 1960 PGA Championship.
Thomas kneeled and dropped his head before two-putting to polish off his win, then made a beeline to his family.
“When I had my putt, I marked it and I turned around and I just happened to see my parents, saw my grandma and grandpa, and I just got a huge knot in my throat, and I just had to put my head down,” Thomas said. “I never have gotten like that on the golf course before. I wanted to win for them so bad.”
While Mike Thomas, also a career club pro and a former PGA of America board member, has been his son’s lifelong instructor and mentor, and Jani Thomas has walked most every step of the way during his golf career, Justin’s grandparents continue to inspire and provide constant moments of joy.
Grandpa stoked his grandson’s passion for golf, grandma always makes him laugh. Like when he got this text message from grandma, who is a leap-year baby and tells people she’s 20 instead of a spry 82: “Dad told me you were on your way to France and that you had been sick all week. Hope you have some good s---kicking antibiotics. Hit them good across the pond and be well.”
“That’s grandma right there,” Thomas said. “She’s a beauty.”
On the flip side is grandpa, who turned professional as a teenager out of financial necessity, competed against Palmer, Nicklaus and Hogan, and made the cut in the U.S. Senior Open three times.
“The thing with my grandpa is he’s not emotional, he’s very right in front of you, straight laced,” Justin Thomas said.
The eldest Thomases won’t be at Bellerive but will be watching on TV at home in Columbus, Ohio, hoping to see their grandson win for the fourth time this season.