Paul could appreciate such a shot because he grew up in an era that demanded toughness. Paul Thomas was his grandsons biggest fan. But the mood turned somber when Golf Channel interviewer Steve Sands asked Thomas about his late grandfather. He punctuates this sentence with a laugh, an acknowledgement that this scene a 10-year-old boy walking through dark woods on the way home from work is a remnant of a bygone era. I was just scraping it together, anyway, Paul said. Players would acknowledge him from a few fairways over. Two-time PGA Championship winner and Louisville native Justin Thomas (current No. His dog, a golden retriever named Duke, was a gift from friends. The Ryder Cup captain was still in the mix down the stretch at TPC Scottsdale. Then, on the par-5 16th, Thomas hit a 5-wood from 228 yards that led to a birdie and even surprised him. Paul could appreciate such a shot because he grew up in an era that demanded toughness. Thomas remained a stalwart in his PGA section, twice winning the Central Ohio PGA Championship. Thomas later moved back to Cincinnati where he got down to teaching the game to others. Steve Stricker, who will soon turned 54, was trying to become the oldest player ever to win a PGA Tour event. Two of his early assistant-pro jobs took him to York, Pennsylvania, and Tequesta, Florida, where he worked for Ohio native and established PGA TOUR winner Dow Finsterwald at Tequesta Golf Club. Thomas started the day at TPC Scottsdale at 14 under in a tie for fifth. Pauls favorite player, Sam Snead, finished third. In a way, Justin Thomas was born to be on the golf course. It wasnt even his tee shot on No. He birdied four of the final six holes, including three straight at 15, 16 and 17. At the age of 14, she began her studies at the National Theatre School of Havana, where she graduated after 4 years. Sunday, February 7, 2021 shortly before he was to play in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Justin Thomas learned that his paternal grandfather, Paul Thomas, age 89, had passed away earlier that morning. Justin's grandfather, Paul Thomas, was a lifelong And that passion is what stands out, Durant said of Thomas. Durant said it was intimidating caddying for his former boss, but it was only a matter of time before Thomas broke the ice. ZANESVILLE, Ohio It has been more than three decades since Paul Thomas was the head golf professional at Zanesville Country Club, but his legacy is one that has remained strong with those who knew him. I think about him every day, Thomas said. pertaining to the NBA as well. He didnt win but Stricks shot 17-under and tied for fourth with rounds of 65-66-69-67. Bailey Chamblee's tee shot found the water at the par-3 17th hole. On Monday, Justin Thomas posted on Instagram: Heaven got a good one yesterday. I was comfortable in the position I was in, and thats a very new position for me, because its been a little while, Spieth said. The mistake caused humiliation and embarrassment and cost him some sponsors. WebMatch All (Sorted by Popularity Ascending) 1. Prior to his induction, in an interview with longtime TR sports editor Sherry Dinan, Thomas offered up a glimpse of the future in a story published on Oct. 5, 2001. He made a double-bogey at the sixth hole and turned in one-over par. When Paul Thomas passed away at 89-years-old in February 2021, Justin Thomas was at TPC In his case, he simply enjoyed being Grandpa. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Green, whose seven wins included one major, the 1989 du Maurier, lists Paul as the biggest influence on her career. Tiger Woods holds the Tour's all-time mark for consecutive cuts made with 142. https://golfweek.usatoday.com/2021/02/07/justin-thomas-grandfather-paul-thomas-death-phoenix-open/, Mexico, Caribbean, Atlantic islands, Central America, Top 50 Classic Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, Top 50 Modern Courses in Great Britain & Ireland, According to a story about Paul on PGATour.com, Justin Thomas cards nine birdies Friday at Waste Management Phoenix Open, Justin Thomas has 'tremendous opportunity to learn and grow' after homophobic slur. That passion then reached Justin as well. The PGA Tour from its Education Justin attended St. Xavier High School for early education. He added a new one at the start of the year that is equally meaningful though rarely seen. The TOUR was just getting organized. I remember telling him a long time ago that, as well as he drives the ball, dont spend your time hitting those irons. Yeah, it was too close for comfort, to say the least.. Both his dad and his granddad were instrumental in shaping his career. Hes told me the same stories a million times, but I never tell him to stop, Justin said. Those numbers have long since faded. He was hard on himself, so he was hard on me. That one is on the inside of his right upper arm. Thomas trailed Palmer by just a stroke entering the final round, but shot a 77 to Palmers 67. He was 31 years old, and already had been a professional for 13 years. Wish you were still here to tell me how many putts I missed on days like yesterday! His career brought him face to face with many of sports greatest stars -- Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Muhammad Ali, Don Shula, countless Hall of Fame NFL stars, more PGA Tour players than he can count. He won big. 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. I know it sure didnt pay much in those days. Paul was a lifelong club pro, but also an accomplished player who competed in the same events as Palmer, Nicklaus and Hogan. Paul was one of the first to call Justin after he won last years PGA at Quail Hollow. He always knew Justins talent, but he always said that was Mikes gig, Durant said. He played with Jerry Barber one time, and Jerry Barber was the short game guru of the 1950s and 1960s, maybe even early 70s. Paul Thomas, who was a longtime head golf professional, would have been proud at how his grandson overcame a start in which he was outside the cutline after the first 27 holes and recovered to card a 64-68 on the weekend on the way to a 14-under 274 for the tournament, one shot better than ageless wonder Lee Westwood. He was known as Grandfather and will be dearly missed by his children and extended family. Follow him on Twitter @SamBlackburnTR. As Justin Thomas attempted to make up a four-shot deficit on co-leaders Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele in the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, he did it with mixed emotions. This service is provided on talkSPORT Ltd's Terms of Use in accordance with our Privacy Policy. But he was not so sure as he watched the ballbefore it landed and somehow it bounced toward the hole, precariously close to the edge. 12. Follow Sean Martin on Twitter. (AP Photo/John Amis). Paul Thomas, who died last Sunday, was the head professional at Zanesville Country Club from 1963-88. Before Justin Thomas won golfs richest prize, Paul would regale him with tales from professional golfs hardscrabble days. Like his grandson, Paul, who was 89, entered the golf world early. Paul Thomas himself has competed in two PGA Championships as well. I have a patent by my husbands grandfather Sebastian N Sloan from Dec 18 1941 of a cable Safeguard. "He called me and said he would be charging me residuals every time he saw it on TV," Thomas said with a laugh. Copyright 2021 WDRB Media. Will love and miss you, G Pa., A post shared by Justin Thomas (@justinthomas34). Thomas and Woods are very close. 9-12 on Sunday. It was not the 32 on the back nine of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. I asked her to send me a picture of it. Justin Thomas learned a lot from his grandfather in his childhood. His dad Mike Thomas is a head professional at a golf club, and his late maternal grandfather Paul Thomas competed at major championships in the 60s. A month later, his 89-year-old grandfather died. Paul Thomas, Justin's paternal grandfather, was a PGA professional, too. Later in his life, he made the cut in three U.S. Senior Opens. I keep all his voicemails. His grandparents presence behind the 18th green was the reason Justin got emotional before hitting the final putt of his four-stroke victory at last weeks World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. I was very lucky to be able to work with him and call him a friend. Justin Thomas, who began the day seven strokes off the lead, came up one shot short of tying the course record on Saturday at the Players. There would be other PGA Championship chances earned, however. Apr 30, 2021; Palm Harbor, Florida, USA; Justin Thomas tees off on the 6th hole No. It was his television interview moments after his victory at The Players Championship was secured Sunday and he was asked about his grandfather, Paul Thomas, who died five weeks ago. Thomas, the Jupiter resident, got so emotional he had a difficult time trying to say how much his grandfather meant to him and how he wished he could talk to him. The victory was also an I wonder if Paul Thomas dad played any golf or if he found golf for the family. After struggling early in 2021, dealing with the death of his grandfather and the response to a homophobic slur he muttered that was heard on TV audio, Thomas shot 132 on the And one of the two biggest moments of his career, along with that PGA Championship, came during a time where he had to overcome one huge misstep and two very difficult moments in his personal life, enough so that Thomas admitted Sunday to seeking outside help. On Saturday night, Justin got the sad news that Paul, age 89, had passed away. Lynch: Justin Thomas learned something this week. Wish you were still here to tell me how many putts I missed on days like yesterday! I think it's something, especially at our level, a lot of people probably think that they're bigger and better than that, but some of the thoughts and things I was feeling, it wasn't fair to myself, and I needed to do something. 18 that was drawing left but somehow straightened out on the first bounce and hugged the fairway feet from the water. Although he did not win, Justin went on to fulfill his obligation and played in the tournament with such news weighing heavy on Paul didnt have his own golf clubs, so he played his first rounds with the rental sets available at Avon Fields. After he showed that he was going to make it, I told him, Only you can screw this thing up. As Justin Thomas attempted to make up a four-shot deficit on co-leaders Jordan Spieth and Xander Schauffele in the final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, he did it with mixed emotions. And, of course, he watches his grandson succeed in the family trade. Thomas said he had the tattoo done shortly before his grandfather died in early February at age 89. He remembers winning the caddie championship a few years later in the pouring rain. A native of Ashland, Kentucky,Thomas moved to Cincinnati as a child and graduated from Norwood High before turningpro at 17. Many of his misses were from inside 10 feet. Get out there and hit the sand wedge and the pitching wedge.. Finsterwald, his old boss, won with a final-round 67, finishing two shots ahead of Billy Casper. Thomas' grandfather, Paul Thomas, played in some PGA Tour events in the late 1950s and qualified for three major championships in the early 1960s. When Tiger Woods was a vice captain for the 2017 U.S. Presidents Cup team, he was an intimating presence - but not like you'd think. Hearing about his grandfathers brushes with the games greats stoked Justins passion for the game. The head space I was in this week was a huge step for me., Enough for Thomas to believe this was probably one of the best rounds of my life, tee to green.. Spieth will play in this weeks Pebble Beach Pro-Am and was overall, optimistic. The PGA Tour confirmed Paul Thomass death on Twitter on Sunday afternoon, and Justin shared the following message Monday morning after finishing T-13 in Phoenix. You could tell when he was 7, 8, 9, 10 years old, he had something. There would be other PGA Championship chances earned, however. Since his wife, Phyllis, didnt make the trip Durant joined Thomas at all of the couples events prior to the tournament. Chicago passed on him at No. Like his grandson, Paul entered the golf world early. He added a new one at the start of the year that is equally meaningful though rarely seen. It was then that Thomas spotted his father, Mike, which made him think about his grandfather. Moving on, Mike Thomas is popularly known for being the father of a professional golfer, Justin Thomas. Proud grandfather of Jay Jr. That one is on the inside of his right upper arm. He recalls when he and twin brother Ryan would take lessons from Thomas as children during family vacations at Peek n Peak Resort, where they would also get to play with the teacher. Thomas pondered hooking a 5-wood over the tree to the green, but Durant insisted he take a more sensibleapproach. Dog Leg News leads the pack in whats happening with golf today seriously. Finsterwald, his old boss, won with a final-round 67, finishing two shots ahead of Billy Casper. He quickly established himself as one of the states top players. PONTE VEDRA BEACH The most difficult part of the day for Justin Thomas was not chasing and catching Lee Westwood and Bryson DeChambeau. He quickly established himself as one of the states top players. His signature is very Arnold Palmer-like, and I always remembered that. I have done some great things in my career in golf. He would finish the round shooting a one-over 72 to come in T-13, six back of Koepka. More:Jupiter's Daniel Berger hoping rib issue does not force him out of Honda Classic, More:DAngelo: With opening round 71 at The Players, Justin Thomas says he's 'getting closer' to true form. 3 to No. he pursued a Journalism degree and graduated from Madras Christian College. Duke is now a central part of Thomas' Paul and Phyllis Thomas had never been on-hand for one of their grandsons nine PGA TOUR victories. MS: All eyes on Finau, Rahm; all ears on McIlroy, Green wins three-way playoff at JM Eagle LA, Mexico payout: Rahm sets record before May, JT: When U.S. player was intimidated by Tiger, OWGR: Top 50 finalized for Masters, Rory No. Felt like I hit good putts, said Spieth, who hit just five fairways all day. Justin Thomas hits from the fifth tee during the final round of the Tour Championship golf tournament Sunday, Aug. 25, 2019, at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta. Thomas said Sunday he kept telling everyone close to him he was waiting for something good to happen this year. He would talk with him about golf all of the time, but it was more hey, lets work on that putting, or, hey I saw this out there. But Mike was in charge of helping him with his swing. I talked to people, Thomas said. Justin Thomas was among a strong cast of pursuers Sunday at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, where he was playing with a heavy heart after the death of his grandfather Saturday. Thomas, the Jupiter resident, got so emotional he had a difficult time trying to say how much his grandfather meant to him and how he wished he could talk to him. He was either going to beat me up or be really happy after that. Not so much. Introducing the Off Their Rockers Podcast! A post shared by Justin Thomas (@justinthomas34). May the Thomas beloved pioneer Rest In Peace. Justin Thomas is one of the most popular golfers on the PGA Tour. Thomas has earned several accolades as a professional and continues to keep pushing for more. You get lucky breaks like that. A post shared by Justin Thomas (@justinthomas34). Privacy Policy. He stood up there like a man and just staked it, Paul said. Paul, 86, still plays a handful of times per week and gives the occasional lesson. Jupiter's Daniel Berger hoping rib issue does not force him out of Honda Classic, DAngelo: With opening round 71 at The Players, Justin Thomas says he's 'getting closer' to true form, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. He played in the 1962 U.S. Open and for decades worked at a country club in Zanesville, Ohio. There was a problem saving your notification. JT was born in Louisville, Kentucky, to an avid golf-loving family. It was 4 miles from his house to Avon Fields Golf Course in Cincinnati, Ohio. Justin Thomas will be playing his first PGA Championship since the demise of his grandfather Paul Thomas. That one is on the inside of his right upper arm. Thomas was in attendance when Justin won the 2018 WCC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club, the same site in which Thomas competed in the 1960 PGA Championship. Its the signature of his late grandfather, Paul Thomas, the first in a generation of golf professionals. PT fondly remembered a young Justin playing the short course at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The holes were no more than 50-90 yards, and he would just go around and around trying to make a hole-in-one, he said. Everyone else? 14) will be a crowd favorite at next years tournament. Pro golfer Justin Thomas chats with his grandfather Paul Thomas, left, at the Harmony Landing Campus, Big Spring Country Club prior to the Justin Thomas Junior Championship in 2019. Thomas finished with a round of 72, one-over and his 13-under total tied him for 13th. I thought it was 50/50 if it was going to be dry or in the water, Thomas said. My dad will be the first to tell you that he was pretty hard on me, Mike Thomas said. Both followed Justins career regularly, and Justin purchased scooters for them to ride at PGA events to ease the burden of extensive walking long courses. A post shared by Justin Thomas (@justinthomas34). Tiger was spotted on Sunday in Tampa at Super Bowl LV to watch the Buccaneers beat the Kansas City Chiefs. Paul Thomas was there at the Firestone Country Club in 2018 when JT won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Both were on-hand at Firestone Country Club in 2018 when Justin won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Sep 23, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Team USA golfer Justin Thomas hits his tee shot on the fourth hole during the four-ball match play of the Presidents Cup golf tournament at Quail Hollow Club. He later made the cut in the 1982, 1983 and 1987 U.S. Senior Opens,was twice named Central Ohio PGA Player of the Year and won the Central Ohio PGA Championship and COPGA Seniors twice each. Sam Blackburn is a sports reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder, part of the USA Today Network. Tequesta is a short distance from Jupiter, where Justin Thomas and a parade of other PGA TOUR players now live. The only thing I knew is that I just absolutely smoked it. Paul wont take credit for his grandsons success, though. Thomas remained a stalwart in his PGA section, twice winning the Central Ohio PGA Championship. Thomas was born in Ashland, Ky., and spent many years as the head pro at Zanesville Country Club in Ohio. Paul was an old-school instructor I dont believe in theory because no two people are the same, he said whose students included two future LPGA Tour winners, Tammie Green and Michele Redman, and Mike Thomas, the second-oldest of his four sons. Paul Thomas begat Mike Thomas who begat Justin Thomas, the winner of the 2017 FedExCup and the defending champion at this weeks PGA Championship. He played Jaycees one time with a group from (ZCC) in the American Cancer Society tournament and made nine birdies. The Ongoing Battle At The Top: Rahm Vs. Rory Vs. Scottie. He finished with a birdie at the 18th that kept him in the top five. Justin Thomas fought back tears in an emotional interview after winning the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday. After Thomas hooked a tee shot after making the turn, he faced a second shot obstructed by a tree. News Corp is a network of leading companies in the worlds of diversified media, news, education, and information services. Read Also: Sam Burns Grandfather: Is the PGA Tour Golfer the Grandson of Arnold Palmer? I was forced out (of school) because of finances, and that was the first opportunity at halfway decent employment, Paul said. Paul Thomas poses with a photo with his son Mike, left, and grandson Justin during a round of golf. And as much as the lid was open other days, it was closed today.. The PGA confirmed on Sunday that Paul Thomas died Saturday night at the age of 89. Soon after that, Woods single-car accident in Los Angeles had Thomas in tears. One was Mike Durant, who worked under Thomas as a young professional and later returned to serve in the same role. Wish you were still here to tell me how many putts I missed on days like yesterday! Youve been hitting every iron shot about five or six feet from the hole. Justin Thomas, in full,Justin Louis Thomas, (born April 29, 1993, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.), American golfer who, in 2017, won his first "major" at the 99th PGA Thomas said. He made the commute on foot. Thomas did not leave the tournament immediately and held on to his emotions to complete his rounds. I still use that word today. Justin Thomas got his dog in 2016. And he sure did.. It was nothing like it is today. His grandparents presence behind the 18th green was the reason Justin got emotional before hitting the final putt of his four-stroke victory at last weeks World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. Will love and miss you, G Pa,. He could flat-out play.. But a two-shot swing when he missed a 3-footer on No.14 and Westwood, one group behind, birdied the hole, had them even again. Justin Thomas in a green jacket on a Sunday afternoon in April seems inevitable; if not this year, then at some point before his Masters career is done. Copyright 2023 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. Justin is a tough guy and dug deep, likely for his grandpa, but he just couldnt. He was all about us trying to make our games better, Adam said on Wednesday from Hilton Head. Competitors cant be choosers. NBC made the announcement early in their telecast, which is when many around Zanesville heard the news. I didnt mind the walk over in the morning, but the walk home in the dark was spooky, Paul Thomas said. CHARLOTTE, N.C. Justin Thomas yearned to win a major, any major. 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. He suffered bogeys at 10 and 11 but finally had a highlight for the day when he holed a 49-foot putt for eagle at the short par four 17th. during the second round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. Paul Thomas was there at the Firestone Country Club in 2018 when JT won the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational. Then they go your way sometimes.. Its up to you to make something out of yourself, Paul said. It was there where Durant met several big-name players, including legendary Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead, to name a few. Read INFLUENCE Magazine - Spring 2023 by Extensive Enterprises Media on Issuu and browse thousands of other publications on our platform. Justin Thomas learned a lot from his grandfather in his childhood. He punctuates this sentence with a laugh, an acknowledgement that this scene a 10-year-old boy walking through dark woods on the way home from work is a remnant of a bygone era. But Thomas has said he will learn from his mistake and be a better person. Neither of his parents played golf, but this son of an auto mechanic had heard that caddying could be a good source of extra income. Justin Thomas Makes History At Players Championship After an incredibly emotional two months for Justin Thomas following the loss of his grandfather, the American claimed victory at The Players Championship. He won that years Southern Ohio PGA Championship to qualify for the PGA Championship. Paul was a lifelong club pro, but also an accomplished player who competed in the same events as Palmer, Nicklaus and Hogan. I said, This is weird, but can you have grandpa sign something? Thomas said. I was just scraping it together, anyway, Paul said. The advantage was two shots after Thomas birdie on No. He took a crack at the TOUR as a 25-year-old in 1957, back when professional golf was still gaining traction and players caravanned across the country to play for pittance. Paul Thomas was born in Ashland, Kentucky, but moved to Cincinnati as a child, and spent a long chunk of his career as the head professional at Zanesville Country Club in Ohio. Paul and his wife, Phyllis, followed their grandsons career closely and made it to tournaments when they were able. Thomas said he had the tattoo done shortly before his grandfather died in early February at age 89. Thomas and son Mike, Justins father and coach,and a PGA club professional in Louisville, Kentucky, are members of the Zanesville District Golf Association Hall of Fame. May he rest in peace.. Green, whose seven wins included one major, the 1989 du Maurier, lists Paul as the biggest influence on her career. He enjoyed the work of growing his own vegetables and fruit that he could share with family and friends. A Louisville native, Thomas has grown up playing on the AJGA, making the ongoing tournament very special to the golfer. He won that years Southern Ohio PGA Championship to qualify for the PGA Championship. Paul was an old-school instructor I dont believe in theory because no two people are the same, he said whose students included two future LPGA Tour winners, Tammie Green and Michele Redman, and Mike Thomas, the second-oldest of his four sons. Hes shot his age every year since turning 64. After he showed that he was going to make it, I told him, Only you can screw this thing up. A result like this just helps confirm what I was already feeling, and that just moves the needle the right direction.. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. While Thomas was often outspoken about Green and Redman and their play, he stayed in the shadows when it came to Justin. It was his television interview moments after his victory at The Players Championship was secured Sunday and he was asked about his grandfather, Paul Thomas, who died five weeks ago. It's the signature of his late grandfather, Paul Thomas, the first in a generation of golf professionals. Still, he found himself encouraged with his weeks work, and disappointed with his Sunday disappointments. After his short major-stint, Paul Thomas spent most of his life teaching at the Zanesville Country Club in Ohio. He held the post for more than a quarter-century while remaining one of the top players in the Central Ohio PGA. Having developed an avid interest in sports at an early age, The older Thomases could be overly technical, though, so Mike tried to keep his instruction of Justin simple, focusing on the fundamentals. Editor's Picks. I would say the most help I ever gave him was playing with him and talking to him, he said. Copyright 1996 - Paul was one of the first to call Justin after he won last years PGA at Quail Hollow. Fittingly, Thomas went into the ZDGA Hall with Green, his most famous pupil, and Sam Zoller, the first ZDGA Amateur champion who played at ZCC. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) Justin Thomas played the Sunday's final round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open while mourning the death of his grandfather, Paul. Justin was a phenom whod prepared his entire life for the pro ranks. For 25 to 28 years, Mike was part of a club in Ohio. PT stayed out of the way of Mike serving as Justins instructor as he developed into a PGA Tour star, but he did offer his own wisdom from time to time.
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