Justin Thomas insisted ‘my wife knows’ as he explained reason for hating Rory McIlroy
Justin Thomas admitted he and Rory McIlroy temporarily “hated each other” during their Ryder Cup singles match-up.
But the American went on to clarify that he would feel the same even if he hypothetically came up against his own wife during the same tournament. Thomas, 32, is a key player for Team USA, having won the Ryder Cup in both 2018 and 2021.
The two-time major champion holds an impressive Ryder Cup record of 7-4-2, although the 2023 edition didn’t unfold as hoped, with McIlroy and Team Europe seizing victory with a scoreline of 16½ -11½.
Despite the overall outcome, the Louisville star racked up crucial points for his squad, earning half a point in the four-ball and a full point in the singles, where he maintained his undefeated run.
The intensity and pressure of the Ryder Cup even led Thomas to drop all pleasantries when squaring off against McIlroy, one of his close friends on the PGA Tour. He admitted that he was forced to hate the Northern Irishman for the duration of their intense singles match in 2018, where McIlroy ultimately suffered a meltdown and lost.
Thomas said in 2023: “I would say I would just kind of channel the things that I feel because it’s nothing personal. Rory is a great example. I love Rory. We get along extremely well.
