Justin Thomas Reveals How Wife, Jill, Newborn Almost Cost him RBC Heritage
It took nearly three years, but Justin Thomas finally won on the PGA Tour again. He captured a Signature Event title, too. Thomas beat Andrew Novak in a playoff Sunday for his 16th career PGA Tour win.
That victory moved him into some truly exclusive company in tour history. Thomas became just the seventh man since 1960 to win 16 PGA Tour events, including two major championships, before turning 32 years old.
The previous six are all legends: Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller, and Rory McIlroy.
But the victory nearly did not happen.
Novak tied Thomas at 17-under par with a birdie on 16. Meanwhile, the two-time major champion found himself walking the 18th fairway with his mind wandering.
“Just seeing them [his wife Jill, 5-month-old daughter Molly] walking up 18 green even in regulation, I had to look away because when you’re out there in the moment, you’re focused on what you’re doing,” Thomas said after his win.
“It’s business.”
But business was more difficult than normal this time.
“Just walking up there and seeing them and not knowing what Andrew [Novak] did on 17. I’m obviously trying to figure out how I’m going to either make this putt and also two-putt it, and it’s hard to not start thinking about what could be when I see them, so that’s where I had to kind of put my head down and take a deep breath…”
JT was able to remain composed and make his par on 18. That ultimately led to a playoff with Novak, where Thomas hit one of the biggest putts of his life.
