Justin Thomas says ‘silly’ Tiger Woods will cause him ‘heartbreak’ despite winning PGA 2022 | Golf News

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Justin Thomas Wins Second PGA Championship After Beating Will Zalatoris In Three-Hole Playoffs

PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas described Tiger Woods’ elimination at this year’s major as “too absurd”, but said his close friend would “find something to hurt me”. sad” despite his victory.

Woods, who is making his second appearance since suffering a career-threatening leg injury in a car crash in February 2021, produced a typical performance on Friday to make the cut. at the Southern Hills, as he did at The Masters last month.

The final 15-time major champion will withdraw before the final round after shooting a point above 9 par 79 on Saturday, but Thomas, who beat fellow American Will Zalatoris in the playoffs to claim the title , claiming Woods’ performance was one of those things. should be celebrated.

When asked what it was like to witness Woods’ struggle, Thomas replied: “I wouldn’t say how difficult it is to watch him struggle. I mean, he does. cut majors for the second consecutive year, what, a year and a half after being in a terrible car accident, [with a] broken leg?

“I don’t think you understand how unbelievable that is. He is a monster by nature. Those are the things he can do with his mind.

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Tiger Woods had an even match on the 18th to finish in a high position after a tough day at the Southern Hills

“I didn’t play in his prime, but since I’ve been here – he won the Masters in 2019 and won the TOUR, he’s done these last two – because of what some of his conditions were like last year, it’s ridiculous, more like nonsense.”

Thomas reveals Tiger jibe during Saturday performance

Speaking to the media on Sunday night after his win, Thomas appeared to indicate he had yet to speak to Woods, but revealed that the 46-year-old still tried to poke him on Saturday after The champion eventually shot a 74. appeared to take him out of the argument.

“I talked to him a little bit last night and asked how he was feeling,” Thomas said. “And he just said he was feeling terrible because my name kept falling on the leaderboard.

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The best action from the final round of the PGA Championship at Southern Hills

“So I said, ‘thanks, nice to talk to you, I’ll talk to you later. “

Thomas’ victory at the Southern Hills saw him follow in Woods’ footsteps, following the latter’s 2007 PGA championship at the same venue. Thomas also joins Woods as one of only six players since World War II to win 15 PGA Tour titles – including two majors – before turning 30.

Despite the remarkable achievement, Thomas is adamant that Woods will still find something to frighten him, suggesting it could be his frantic tee shot in the third par-three. six, or his failure to end the playoffs by hanging an 18th green birdie, even though par was enough to win.

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Thomas makes a monster putt from long distance on the eleventh hole!

“I think now I only have 150 other things to do that he’s done where he can stop grieving me,” Thomas added. “So I guess it was just a stepping stone.

“I’m sure he’ll probably give me a hard time judging it, [or say] I should have hit 18 [and] Shouldn’t have been in a playoff.

“I don’t know, he’ll always find something to grieve for me.”

Thomas praises caddy Mackay

Thomas praised Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay’s role in his victory as the caddy’s absent former owner continued to show up in the Southern Hills.

Thomas said that Mackay, who has had Phil Mickelson’s five major wins on his hands, gave him some key advice as he was frustrated by the 74 shot on Saturday.

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Thomas said it was a special feeling to win his second major

“I have complete confidence in saying that I wouldn’t be standing here if he hadn’t given me that, not necessarily a speech, but a talk, if you will,” Thomas said.

“We went down the range and just hit the ball and really just said more than anything and he said, ‘man, don’t be too hard on yourself. Good things are coming, your game. are trending unbelievably, you’re playing some really good golf, give yourself plenty of chances and it’ll happen, it’s just a matter of when.’ And it just happens to be today.

“I leave here in a great frame of mind and not many times after shooting four times on Saturday of a major I’ve left in as good of a mind as I have.”

Despite contributing to Mickelson’s feat, Mackay usually doesn’t get the traditional caddie “trophy” to represent it.

Thomas celebrates with his caddy Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay after winning the 2022 PGA Championship

As detailed in Mickelson’s new bio, which also features explosive comments about the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia-backed rival tournament he is still affiliated with, Mickelson will hand the flag from hole 18 to his grandfather, a former Pebble Beach track and field athlete.

Shortly after their split in 2017, Mickelson sent Mackay the flags they had won together but according to a biography written by Alan Shipnuck, Mickelson “signed them with funny large letters” and Mackay did not display them in his home.

After Sunday’s playoffs, Mackay was photographed collecting the flag at the Southern Hills and was asked if he knew where he would display it.

“I have a place in mind, but somewhere my friends can come around and see it,” he said. Golfweek.