Justin Louis Thomas (born April 29, 1993) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour and a former World Number One. In 2017, Thomas experienced a breakout year, winning four PGA Tour events, including the PGA Championship, his maiden major championship, and also winning the FedEx Cup championship. In May 2018, Thomas became the 21st player to top the Official World Golf Ranking.
Early years and education
Thomas was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky. Prior to his junior year in high school, he played in the Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour in August 2009 and became the third youngest to make the cut in a PGA Tour event at 16 years, 3 months and 24 days. Thomas graduated from St. Xavier High School in 2011.
Thomas played college golf at the University of Alabama, where he won six times for the Crimson Tide. As a freshman in 2012, he won the Haskins Award as the most outstanding collegiate golfer. He was on the national championship team of 2013.
Thomas' father, Mike Thomas, has been the head professional at the Harmony Landing Country Club in Goshen, Kentucky, since 1990.
Professional career
Thomas turned professional in 2013 and earned his tour card on the Web.com Tour through qualifying school. He won his first professional event at the 2014 Nationwide Children's Hospital Championship. Thomas finished fifth in the 2014 Web.com Tour regular season, and third after the Web.com Tour Finals, and earned his PGA Tour card for the 2015 season. In 2015, Thomas collected seven top-10s and 15 top-25s, with fourth-place finishes at the Quicken Loans National and Sanderson Farms Championship as his best results. He finished 32nd at the PGA Tour's FedEx Cup, losing the Rookie of the Year award to Daniel Berger.
On November 1, 2015, Thomas earned his first victory on the PGA Tour by winning the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by a single stroke over Adam Scott. He overcame a double bogey on the 14th hole during the final round and holed a six-foot (1.8 m) par putt to claim the win by a stroke. Thomas had earlier shot a course record 61 during the second round to contribute to a 26-under-par winning score.
PGA Championship 2022 PGA Tour Golfers | PGA Championship 2017 PGA Tour Golfers | FedEx Cup 2017 PGA Tour Golfers |