ジャスティン・トーマスがエリートゴルフについて学んだこと

ジャスティン・トーマスがエリートゴルフについて学んだこと

Like if if 2017 me would have played against 2024 me on Sunday, like 2024 me wouldn’t have had a chance. I mean, I’m still can’t pick my daughter up, which is a bummer. I pulled over to like read the text and and just was like and I called my wife immediately and I’m just like this I can’t believe like this is uh this sucks. You could go seasons of playing unbelievably high quality golf or some of the best golf in the world, but you just don’t win tournaments, but it’s also the further and further you get away from it, the more you’re reminded of it. >> Hey everybody, Trey Wingo here. Welcome in to another episode of Straight Facts Homie, the podcast where we give you information and data to make you a smarter sports fan. And uh it’s been a fun ride for us. Thank you for subscribing and helping us grow since we relaunched my platform here in August. The growth and engagement with so many of you has been incredible and it’s really helped us figure out the way forward for us and the best way for us to serve you. And what we’ve learned is the thing that we knew there are so many out so many of you out there that want to be better sports fans that want to be smarter sports fans. You don’t want to be yelled at. You don’t want to be told what you should believe, but rather you want to be told and and what really matters and how information can help you become a smarter, more well-informed sports fan. And because of that, we also learned that you like golf almost as much as I do. So, when we took all that information, we decided we’re going to do something a little new as well. We’re going to launch our new specific golf specific YouTube channel, Treywingo Golf. Now, the main channel here at Straight Facts Homie will remain the same. big interviews, lots of football information, highlevel golf content. The golf channel that we’re launching though is where we’re going to go a mile deeper in the game that drives all of us crazy at times and we can’t get enough of it. So, if you love golf and want more of it, make sure you get not only your stuff here on the Straight Facts Homie podcast page, but also like and subscribe to the Trey Wingo Golf channel for everything else you need to know. Trey Wingo for the big conversations. Treywing Goolf for everything beyond the game. We’re going to do a lot of traveling with the game, intuitive instructions around great courses uh with some really interesting people. So, I think you’re going to like all of that. So, make sure you subscribe to the Trey Wingo channel and the Trey Wingo Golf Channel here on YouTube. And with all of that as a precursor, we just sat down recently, had a great conversation with a two-time major winner who’s trying to work his way back on tour after having back surgery, Justin Thomas. Sit back and enjoy. Well, I guess first of all, we’re about a month into this uh disctomy situation for you. How you feeling? >> Uh, pretty good. I mean, it’s it’s um you know, it’s it’s it’s boring. The the recovery process is a little bit, but I started rehab two weeks ago, so at least I have that to look forward to three days a week. Um, but yeah, I mean I’m still can’t pick my daughter up, which is a bummer. And you know, there’s it it feels like I can do more than I can, but I just have to stay stay patient with it. >> Sounds like golf. You always want to do a little more and you just have to sort of play within yourself, right? >> Yeah. Yeah. Somewhat. Somehow this is seems just as or more frustrating, but that also sounds like golf. >> Yeah, very true. Um, so when did you know you had a problem? because you know you you you played lights out on Sunday at the Ryder Cup uh and obviously very emotional and we’ll get into that a little bit later but yeah it looked like everything was fine. When did you say well something’s not right here? >> My it was really weird. I had no back problem, no back pain the whole year. Uh my hip had been bothering me probably since like March March or April. >> Dude, you sound like me. My back hurts. My hip hurts. I’m a lot older than you. What the hell? >> Yeah. Well, I had like I said there was nothing back related, so that was the weird part. Um, but it just like my I had a hard time swinging wise like getting into my right side all year like consistently. I had plenty of times where it was was good. But and even little things like getting in my setup like properly like I just had some some minor things that I generally don’t have an issue with or haven’t had an issue with. Um, and it just it kind of felt fatigued. Uh, as the year went on and was just having a hard time. We were trying to kind of find it. I got a hip MRI like it was fine. Um and then it was after really after the rider cut like I felt some like a little bit of stuff down my leg in certain positions like not enough that was um crazy at least during the time. I mean, it’s easy looking back now knowing, but uh >> but after I took some time off after the RDER Cup thinking that would, you know, maybe it was just a little over overplay, whatever. And um and it it hurt really bad. Like the the nerve really started to >> it started to go further and further down my leg. It was, you know, kind of in my hamstring, then into my calf, and then it and then once I was feeling that and talking to, you know, my trainer physio, I was like, “Yeah, you need to get it back a spine MRI.” And it was and it was clear as day. I had a had a herniated disc. So, it was uh need to get it get it taken care of. >> That obviously isn’t something any athlete, especially a golfer wants to hear. What was your initial reaction when Yeah, we’re going to need to operate on your back. >> Yeah. Well, that was the the hard part or the weird part. It was like I I got the got the MRI. Um, and it was like I was actually I was on the way home from the MRI or from the doctor and um, and I had already received a text, you know, whatever it was 30 40 minutes after I’d finished it that they had at least gotten that and I pulled over to like read the text and and just was like >> and I called my wife immediately and I’m just like this I can’t believe like this is uh this sucks. like I don’t know what this means. And um that’s when I kind of started, you know, talking internally, people in my team, and I did my due diligence. I talked to a handful of different doctors, different people. I mean, it’s >> it the by the it’s it’s bizarre by the sounds of it is everybody or not everybody, a lot of people probably have a similar issue, a herniated disc of some sort, especially golfers. Um >> but it just affects everybody differently. You know, it’s like some of it doesn’t compress the nerve, some of them doesn’t. Um, but for me it had been bothering me long enough that um that it wasn’t like I felt like an injection was like a was a band-aid, a very temporary band-aid that I was still going to have a herniated disc that was >> in my opinion and and doctor’s opinions, it was going to need to be addressed at some point in my career. And um this yeah this procedure from from you know the discussions I had was as as basic as it gets for for doctors and uh you know it’s a couple month recovery versus I’m like okay I don’t want to do that’s a bummer but you know if this injection doesn’t go well I have the same problem I play try to play the whole year get through the end of the season who knows maybe it’s worse and now it’s a more serious surgery like it you just have to try to weigh all the options and and I just felt like getting getting it done with, getting straight into the rehab and and miss a couple events in 26 was it was a bummer, but um you know, get it taken care of and and hopefully don’t have to deal with it ever again. >> Yeah, do it at 32 as opposed to 42 probably uh help helps your your your game and your career go a little longer. >> Um obviously you’re you’re really good friends with Tiger. You guys joke around a lot. He’s been through a lot of back surgeries. Did you talk to him? Did you ask him about, hey, what do you what do you do here? >> Um, I didn’t. Um, I joked with him. I said, uh, I’ve I’ve grown up when I cuz I called him and told him, you know, the hero was was an event I had to miss, which is his event. and I wanted to tell him personally that, you know, I was bummed to not play his tournament, but when I told him what was happening and had to get surgery and um he and I said I was like, you know, I’ve I’ve I’ve grown up wanted to be like you in so many different ways and getting a back surgery is not one of them that I ever wanted to be like you [laughter] at. And he just laughed and uh he knows I mean he’s um he he’s joked and and I’ve messed with him before saying, you know, it’s like, “Oh, would you do this?” And if he says yeah, I’m like, “All right, great. I’m going to do something different then.” But, uh, no, he’s he’s been been there in good in good spirits, but I haven’t I haven’t done too much there. [snorts] >> Yeah. Um, do you have any timetable at this point or is it is it just sort of we’re we’re seeing how the therapy goes? >> Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it’s I mean, I would love to to play on the West Coast. Um, you know, in at least one of those events, but I’m trying not to necessarily circle like a certain event. I I think it’s um it may put a little added pressure on me. It may it may force me to come back maybe sooner than I’m ready. I mean, I think it’s it’s I’ve had got a lot of great advice from different people, but the overwhelming is nobody ever comes back too late. you know, everybody and I’m very lucky in golf, you know, we can play this sport competitively for till a >> mid late 40s, 50s, and it’s like I if I miss a couple events that I really would love to play for the longevity of my career, then that’s what it needs to be. But I just um you know, I’m I’m ultimately the only one that can make that decision and and know that. So, I need to be smart about it. >> Yeah. Well, listen, everybody’s different, right? I know my friend uh Mark Slareth who played in the in the NFL for 12 years. He had 29 surgeries in his career. He had 16 on his left knee. He had one back surgery and he’s told me a million times I’d trade that one back surgery for another 16 knee surgeries. So just take it easy with the back. You know what I mean? >> For sure. For sure. >> Um All right. So your your your career for the moment is on pause, but you’ve had a really fascinating beginning to your career. Like from my perspective when you sort of came onto the scene, it was it was sort of like, well, you know, there’s Jordan. Oh, and there’s his there’s his friend Justin, right? And then you you got I think you got a lot of people’s attention at at at Wii with the with the win at Sony. When did you have that moment that was sort of like, all right, yeah, I can do anything that these other guys can do? >> Um, it’s a good question. I mean, I I always knew that I could. I always I didn’t I didn’t internally, it was weird like I I I felt like Jordan’s friend because I was for a very long time and rightfully so for >> uh the amount of accomplishments he had versus what I had. But I mean, you know, all of us know and I knew that it, you know, it’s it was it’s it’s not like I was out there playing like I can’t beat this guy. It was just a or or anybody. Um it just was uh you know, being patient and kind of waiting. But yeah, I’d say >> those Hawaii events were were huge for me. I think you know, winning winning back to back is is tough. Um, I think going wire to wire there at Sony, like you said, and and shooting 59. I mean, I think that was [snorts] it was like the first time for me I felt like I I was in almost like a zen-like just zone of almost like unconsciousness and I felt like I kind of, you know, was able to manage my emotions and everything well that week for, you know, for what was at stake. So, I don’t specifically remember one time like, oh, okay. Like where kind of a light bulb went off, but I would say that probably confidence-wise was was huge for me. >> Yeah. And and it just sort of took off from there. You know, one of the things that I really earlier in your career, I remember uh I think when you won a couple in 2020 and you hadn’t won for a while and and the in the postgame interview, I can’t remember who you were talking to, you said it was time to win again, you know, and I I was like, that’s a dude that like is a dog, you know what I mean? Like, and I I hate to say that as a as a Crimson Tide guy because I know the reference there for George. I’m not trying to cross-pollinate sports here, but I’ve just it was like when I when I heard that I was like that’s a guy who I think is going to win a lot on on on tour and and have success in majors. Um I it just it it just struck me as a as a really interesting thing to say after you it had been a while. What what sort of made you feel that way? >> I don’t know. I think um yeah, it’s it’s a it’s a wild thing. It’s hard to describe, but it I think it it’s uh it’s it’s golf is so unique obviously, right? Like it’s there’s only one winner each week and it’s like you go down these I mean you really could have years, let alone even a spurt of of 6 months or or 12 months, but you could go seasons of playing unbelievably high quality golf or some of the best golf in the world, but you just don’t win tournaments. And and I think the that is it’s it’s something that you probably will never will never be able to resonate or to to get everybody on the outside to understand or even I mean potentially some some of us to understand. But >> yeah, >> um you know, I think it’s just in and the levels of you know, pushing it of like, all right, I got to you know, I really got to make something happen versus like letting things happen. Um, it’s it’s it’s bizarre because it’s it’s so so so hard to win. I’ve always felt that way and I think it’s even harder now. I think you have just the talent’s deeper and I think guys are are hungrier and they’re also just um have less fear, less, you know what I mean? And and younger. So, it’s uh I just think if one of those things for me where it was like when I’m very competitive and I I had had, you know, had a good amount of success there and whatever the time frame was that I hadn’t been the one lifting, you know, a trophy and I felt like I’d played well enough to do so that I’m sure when it did happen, it was it was a a sigh of relief of like I’m glad to be the one, you know, doing this interview on 18 Green again kind of thing. >> Yeah. And and then it it just sort of from there you you were on a clip where you know it just felt like oh JT is gonna win four or five times every year. I mean when you get in that like you said that zen flow I mean it it’s it’s sort of hard to explain to people right because you know when it’s not going right like well I’m doing this wrong or I’m doing that wrong and then when it’s when you’re playing well it’s like you don’t even think about any of that stuff. >> For sure. For sure. I mean a lot of it is is right place right time. It’s um you know who you’re up against. like there there’s a lot of factors that that go into it, especially with how analytical and and statistic driven everything is nowadays. You know, people will look at seasons and it’s like, well, look how great, you know, this season was. And it’s I mean, I’ve done it. It’s like statistically the best I’ve ever played was 2020. >> Um, >> you know, but I I didn’t win a major. It’s like I think I won two or three times, but like I felt like I probably had a better season in I definitely did in 2017 and I probably did in 2018 as well. So, it’s like but you know because the the stats don’t maybe add up to that in golf. It can’t always be there. There’s no there’s no stat that is well I guess there is a stat. It’s how many trophies you have at the end of the year. But >> right >> um there’s just so many factors that go into it and um it really is. I I definitely took for granted. I I was the same boat. I thought I’d you know I’d win two, three, four, five times every at least once every time I was out here. And I feel like I’ve played plenty of even the worst year of my career 2023. I mean, I I still played good enough in a handful of events I felt like the win. I just didn’t. Um, >> but it’s just uh, you know, that that’s the difference of the the good waves, the bad waves, or or, you know, getting it done and not. >> Yeah. Do do you think people really understand how hard it is to win on tour? I mean, like you said, there’s so many guys out there. The the field is so deep and like you said, some of your best years statistically, you really didn’t win at the clip you thought you would. >> Yeah. I mean, look at, you know, Henrik Stenson there. He had the or Phil had the best the second best open championship score. I mean, that >> probably the top five of the history of of statistical weeks of the British Open and he didn’t win because Henrik Stenson also happened to be playing that week. And right, >> I mean, Phil’s never been number one in the world. Like, that’s insane, right? But he just happened to be playing against the biggest freak of nature to ever walk the earth in the game of golf and Tiger. So, it’s like while a lot of it is is right in front of you, it’s so much based off of what is in front of you that week and and even that day, especially when it comes to a Sunday, you know, it’s of uh who’s going to go out and get it or who’s going to give it to you sometimes. >> Yeah. And so, going through that a little bit, how did that help you when you went almost three years without winning? you know, and it it just it to me just saying that out loud seems kind of ridiculous. It it must have been really frustrating for you. How did you manage that? >> It was frustrating going through it. It’s frustrating hearing you say it again, too. But it’s it’s um >> My bad. Sorry. >> No I was the one who did it, so it’s it’s my own [laughter] fault. Um >> No, it is. It’s it’s hard to um there’s definitely times of like, you know, okay, I have to stay patient. It’s going to happen. It’s going to come. But it’s also the further and further you get away from it, the more you’re reminded of it. And the more you’re reminded of it, the more you think about it and the more that like, you know, I just remember especially 23 and and and 24 of having events and being in contention on Sunday. And I felt I mean, I described it as I felt like I was I felt like I was playing like the person that I always knew that I could beat when I was, >> you know, winning multiple times a season. Like if if 2017 me would have played against 2024 me on Sunday, like 2024 me wouldn’t have had a chance. Like I I would have seen that. I would have watched it and I just would have let him let him do his own doing. And um and that was kind of the case. So it it took, you know, a little bit of of learning from it and and unfortunately going through it and failing in some of those those times, but um you know, that’s how how you get better and and try not to let it happen again going forward. >> So when you did come through uh at the at the RBC, what what was it what was that emotion like for you? Like how did you first of all you you’re probably saying to yourself, okay, let’s not do the things that I have been doing, >> right? and still have the confidence to do it. How did you manage that and and sort of get it across the finish line? >> Yeah, I was very very patient uh that whole the whole weekend, the whole Sunday. Um so I mean that was that was great. I mean that’s how I felt like I that was, you know, more of a me that I was familiar with or one that I I like to see more of. Um >> but yeah, the the feelings it was a lot of different things. I mean, it was it was relief, it was excitement, it was um yeah, it was it was a lot of things, but I think it’s, you know, I I I found that Scotty interview that he did at the Open, I thought was like one of the the coolest, deepest, most just unbelievable answers to a question I’ve ever heard of, you know, like winning a tournament and what it means and all that. And and there’s a part of that that did resonate of just like I almost remember being, you know, a little like, man, like I I’m not maybe as excited as I hoped that I would be. Like I was excited, but it is it’s just um you’re just you you go on, you move on. It’s like, okay, I I’m now I have a daughter now. It’s like I’m I’m getting home. I’m getting up with her in the morning or it’s like I’m getting ready in a couple days for my tournament the next week and so on and so forth. So it it is bizarre that with with golf is how it’s generally it’s happens but then you just might go right on to the next week and it’s like I don’t do I celebrate do I not like what what do I do kind of thing. Well, listen, for a hack like me, take all the small victories you can. But like, it’s interesting because that that quote got so much play from so many different people and so many different people tried to interpret what he was saying, you know, and and and as a guy that, you know, have been in a fairly competitive business, not athletically, but a fairly competitive business, I I I understood because it’s like, okay, I got this, but then the next thing, right? because it always almost feels like well if you if you get too satisfied then you won’t progress but shouldn’t you be satisfied with some of this stuff it’s it’s the counterbalance I think for anybody that is sort of driven to do something with their lives >> yeah and I think a lot of of what he said too is why he is as good as Scotty is as good as he is it’s not a >> like he he is yes he is playing a tournament to win it just like all of us are but it is not his baseline off of a success uccessful in an unsuccessful week. And it’s like that is truly buying into the process and the mindset of just like I’m just going to play 18 holes. I’m going to play 36 holes, 54. I’m going to play 72 holes. And like what my score is is what it is. And I hope that it’s better than everybody else. And I have belief that it is better than everybody else’s score. And then you just go on. It’s not like did I win the tournament, did I lose the tournament? It it’s it’s a it’s just such a fascinating thing. And I think that buying into that kind of mindset um is a is a unbelievably difficult thing to do, but it’s a a great thing to do. >> So for for a guy that is, you know, has played with Tiger, grew up watching Tiger, and now is competing against Scotty, you know, the the comparisons are sort of off the charts. What do you see similar in those two, and what do you see different? H I mean their their just consistency. I mean the their consistency is very I would say you know similar their ability to be in contention in golf tournaments and the biggest golf tournaments the >> the control of their golf I mean you know that I’d say Scotty is the >> is consistently who I’ve seen you know hit their irons close to to Tiger. I mean, I was unfortunately, you know, and I think he’d be probably the first to tell you that I’ve, you know, only got maybe a couple of Tigers good, you know, not best, but his his good years to where he was even able to play a season kind of thing. Um, but I, you know, just watching him even around like Royal Melbourne when we were partners, like I that was some of the best I’d ever seen him play and like getting to watch that live and up close was so awesome. And um I think that you know the similarities of just the focus, the intense and and just I’m going to I I’m just better than you are. So I’m just going to stick to my process and my game plan and it’s going to be good enough kind of thing is where a lot of the similarities are. I think they it’s it’s it’s tough to compare because I think it doesn’t have the the wow, the flare that Tiger did, you know, the the hitting it way offline, the crazy followthroughs, the you know, the um the just the the acrobatic kind of stuff and because I just think, you know, Scotty’s just very it’s a it’s a kind of guy you play with and you’re in the scoring 10, you’re doing your scorecard and they’re like, “Scotty’s 66 and you’re like, what?” Like, he just shot 66 kind of thing. And it’s >> Yeah. >> But that, you know, some people think that’s not a good thing, but that’s a great thing because he’s making it look that easy. >> Yeah, he is. Um, it it is the the results are very similar, but the way they go about it, I think, I mean, Tiger always had the flare for the dramatic, you know what I mean? The chicken wing coming out there or or whatever. And you sort of have that too, you know, like I mean I I I think you you get that not only you’re a competitor, but there’s I think there’s somewhat of an entertainment aspect to the way you play. >> I guess um I mean I’ve never thought of it that way. I mean I guess there there is. I It’s probably more entertainment based off of how I play versus like I don’t feel I’ve never felt like all right I’m going to do this for this year, you know? I’m not like in the stands like, “Hey guys, like watch. I’m going to do this.” It’s like, “No, guys, like I just hit this so far offline that like this is the only the only thing that I [laughter] have.” >> But um yeah, it’s it’s unfortunately when you put yourself in positions like that often enough, you’re going to give yourself, you know, it was like Phil, right? Like >> yeah, >> half of hitting those crazy recovery shots is unfortunately putting yourself there some. And um >> yeah, >> and yeah, I’ve I’ve I’ve done it a couple times. >> Well, I’m just I just remember the president’s cup putt where you rolled it in. You said, “I love me some me.” I mean that you know what I mean? Like that’s there are people that that can that can do that organically because it feels like it’s organic with you. You know what I mean? It’s not like it’s not like a show. It just it just comes out of you at certain times. [snorts] >> For sure. Yeah. I mean a situation like that it was it was I um >> it was on the but me a couple of my buddies that went to Alabama like we love that Terrell Owens video. We think it’s hilarious. It’s just like a montage of him saying talking about I love me some me. And I showed it to the guys >> on the team on the bus that morning. Um and Tiger I mean a lot of guys had never seen it. Tiger had never seen it. And I told him, I was like, “If I make a big putt today,” I’m like, “I’m just telling you, I’m saying this.” And um there was like one time I made a a birdie putt on uh it was maybe number four that like I I remember he like when I was kind of going up to, you know, kind of won the hole and he was giving me a fist pump. He kind of just like, you know, said it like just to me, but it just happened literally. It was like on 18. and I hadn’t thought about it or anything and I just made it and I looked up at him and I’m like, “Oh my god, this is the big putt.” I’m like, “This is exactly when I’m going to say it.” So, it it’s one of those things that you like couldn’t draw up to happen that way and somehow it did. And I’m so glad that I that I did say it. >> It’s so funny though to hear you say that about like some guys hadn’t seen it because, you know, from my perspective covering, you know, football and golf and a lot of sports, everyone knows that, right? Everyone knows that Terrell Owens said, “I love me some me.” So, the idea that these guys hadn’t seen it, that that is so foreign to someone like myself, you know, I I I I’m shocked that they didn’t know about that clip. >> I know. I think there was even like a whiteboard and I wrote it up on there. I don’t think I put the the end part of just I can’t stand myself when [laughter] he says that after. It’s like >> it it just was I think we it’s just funny, you know? I think those team events kind of bring out a little different level of swagger and like you can >> and emotions and I feel like you can get away with and do stuff there or maybe not. I I think I’m sure a lot of people don’t like it, but it it feels I’m not making a putt in a tournament and doing it a sit or celebration like that, but >> something about when you have a partner, you you feel like you can kind of celebrate with them type thing. >> Yeah. Well, you’re very demonstrative, and I think that’s what a lot of people like about you, just like they’re they’re the stoics, like you said, like uh you know, like Scotty and some other ones, and they’re guys like yourselves that wear their passion on their sleeves. And, you know, I I sent you that video and I I’ve I’ve always wanted to know what was going on there. I think it was Saturday at the RDER Cup at Rome in 2023. And I think you guys were just you’re just about to be you and Jordan were just about to be closed out by I think Rory and Tommy. >> Was it wasn’t that what it was? >> Well, no, it was it was Justin. It was Justin. I think it was Justin Rose and Bobby Mack because food was right behind. That’s the only reason I know we were playing. And I’m thinking about the water. I’m like, but we didn’t make it to 18. >> So, it couldn’t have been that >> cuz it looked like 18 green. And my guess is it was 16 green which we got shot. We got >> close the the short par4. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And you’re just you’re just you’re just doing this with your hands and Jordan’s just standing there and I’ve always want to know what were you talking about and what was going through your mind that you were just you were wildly >> gesturing. But I’m going to read it to you. I sent it to him and I was like, dude, I was like, do you know when this was? I was like, my guess is it’s 16 against Bob and Rosie seeing Fooch behind us. >> I was like, uh, Trey sent me this video. And he said he loves it. And I was like, and I just can’t figure out what it was. I said, I look very angry and you’re just listening to me [laughter] like a good friend. And Jordan said, “That must be an AI video. They reversed who was talking.” [laughter] I said, “You must be shaking your head.” Like, “Dude, I don’t know why you’re complaining. Have you seen how bad you played this afternoon?” And he just said, [laughter] “I blocked everything out that whole week. I don’t remember anything.” But if it was on 16, I probably hit it in the water. I think I did it every day. So, >> yeah. I mean, I just I I literally I was watching I was watching the coverage of the RDER Cup and I actually rewound it and said, “I’ve got to capture this on video cuz I there’s a million ways I can use this, you know, trying to explain why I made my fifth for putt, you know, to my buddies after my final round. It’s classic. It’s gone. >> We have a couple. We have a couple. There’s one I think from the President’s Cup in Charlotte. Um, and it was just like you could It was just perfect or I guess not perfect, however you want to look at it, but >> yeah, >> I’m generally in charge of of who is giving the putts and for Jordan and I or whoever. And um, >> and we were playing I forget who we were playing, but they had a putt that was like it was it was close. It should have been good, but I mean there’s a little bit of of strategy in it in my eyes. And it was like we hit a hole that we should have >> we should have lost. I hit a terrible I like chunked the hell out of this nine iron. Jordan hit a ridiculous chip that like you know only Jordan could hit hit it up their gimme to where ours was good. They like left the putt short and they had it you know like two two and a half feet or something and Jordan looked at me like that’s good right? And I just go no it’s not good. And [laughter] they had the camera on Jordan and I and you could clear as day see me saying that and I’m like yep that’s that’s about right. [laughter] But but but you you can’t change that because if you then you’re not being who you are. You know what I mean? >> No. No. I’ve um Yeah. I I I go back and forth of that sometimes of like I I don’t I I don’t like necessarily some of the the things that I’ll I’ll do or or say because it’s, you know, I I it maybe isn’t a good look or not how I would, you know, tell any tell my own child to act one day or whatever it is. But at the same time like I’ve >> like you said it it is it is me and I just I want to you know once you start acting like somebody you’re not I think it’s uh you know that that’s when start kind of getting just uncomfortable and kind of thing. So I just I I never want to change that. >> Yeah. I don’t have a lot of rules in life but I have I have two that I try and live by. Number one know who you are and maybe more importantly number two know who you’re not. you know, >> and I think that gets you out of a lot of trouble in a lot of situations. >> Um, >> it’s funny that you you you mentioned and you sent that to to Jordan because everybody, you know, your friendship with with and the way you guys grew up competing has been talked about forever. Are are you surprised that it’s still sort of at the level that it is all these years later? >> What’s that for >> the friendship? >> Um, I’m not. I think we um I don’t know. We we’re very similar and and that’s um I guess good or bad probably depend. You may have to ask our wives. Our wives wives may say it’s bad, but um you know we our wives are are unbelievable friends too. Like it we just we’re very similar in how we go about things. I think our our games are like eerily similar, especially like when we’ve had [snorts] um team events and and trying to figure like we just I don’t know what it is. I think we’ve obviously played a lot a lot of golf together. So, there’s that comfort side, but I think we both know too is that we I think we are both the better best versions of our ourselves or our golf when the other is playing well. I think there’s something to be said for that. I mean, we we have a little internal bet we have of of wins and and stuff like that to, you know, we both we want nothing more than to be the last group on Sunday and and you know, to us finish first and second in tournaments and and you know, be battling it out together like it we both hate that that hasn’t been the case, you know, for for a couple or handful of years, but um but I know that, you know, we both have that belief that it still will and can happen plenty. Oh, well, listen, I mean, like you said earlier, I mean, Phil won a major at at the age of 50. I mean, the the the way the game has changed in the way you can still be competitive for a long long time. So, I don’t think there’s any concerns about that. >> Um, we you mentioned the Ryder Cup. Obviously, it was a huge disappointment this year. Um, how do we how do we get better at because I’ll tell you, I’ll be honest with you, that is my favorite thing in the world. Like, I Super Bowls fine, whatever. They’re great, they’re fun. The RDER Cup to me is the most fun, nerve-wracking, enjoyable thing for me to watch in sports. It is my favorite thing. Um, and it’s just been so frustrating. Uh, outside of Whistling Straits, obviously, uh, and Hazelina in 2016, but it’s it’s been a it’s been a little bit of a, hey, you you little pesky Americans, go away. You know, we’re gonna we’re gonna continue to roll with this thing. What do we need to change? I don’t know. Um, >> hey guys, we’ll get back to the interview here in just a minute, but we wanted to update you with something that we’re doing here and tell you about a new venture we’re launching here. Since we relaunched this channel in August, the growth has been absolutely incredible and the feedback has been wonderful. So, thank you all for that. And what we’ve learned from that and what’s been shown to us is that this community wants to be smarter about the things they consume. And a lot of you really like golf as much as I do. So, with that, we have some really exciting news. We’re launching a new golfsp specific YouTube channel called Trey Wingo Golf. Now listen, that channel will let us go deeper and really engage in a very fun and interesting way about the game that drives us all crazy. Those 18 holes, you try and figure out how you can play three really well and then three like you’re swinging a snow shovel instead of a driver. But we’re going to go deep into that over there. We’re going to get out on courses. We’re going to have our break 80 challenge. We’re going to do a lot of travel. We’re going to do a lot of equipment testing. All that kind of stuff. Uh, nothing changes here on the Trey Wingo Straightfax Homie page on YouTube. You’ll still have great interviews and highlevel football discussions, strategic football information to make you a smarter fan. And golf will stay right here as well. But if that’s your kind of golf, make sure you go over to Trey Wingo Golf as well and subscribe to that channel where we’re going to go really deep into the game and be out there on the course quite a bit going forward. All right, lot for you to consume there. Just make make sure you subscribe to both channels now. And now let’s go back to the interview. >> I mean, I think it’s, you know, it’s it’s tough and I mean, I’ve I’ve I’ve lost sleep over this, you know, nights of just like what can we do? what what can’t and I think there’s I think that’s some of the problem is is maybe there’s there’s quite often some maybe too often changes being made or like looking for I I just I feel like more than anything just more structure and just more you know I I think I think the European team it’s it’s a it’s a finely tuned machine and it’s it’s a it’s all that they have. I think that, you know, the Europeans, they they have it every two years. They, you know, once this one’s done, they’re looking toward forward to the next one and they’re they’re planning that out. Whereas, like it’s not that the PGA isn’t. Um it’s they’re also the PGA of America and they’re running a lot of other events and they have a lot of other things going and and we also have the President’s Cup, you know what I mean? It’s like there’s >> Yeah. there there’s a lot of things that go into it that um I just think that you know whether I don’t know what it is if it’s behind the scenes if it’s whatever but just something that that is just maybe a little more like I said just concrete or organized in that standpoint but at the end of the day it’s I mean I’ve I’ve watched it firsthand they they they play better than us all the RDER cups that we’ve lost they they just outplayed us. And and I fully understand that people that hate the whole thing, well, they just make more putts than us. Like, you can’t just say that. I’m like, no, yes, there there is entire there is way more to that. There is the the fact that they did make more putts than us. Like, that is a stone cold fact that I’m not sure how there’s nothing that anybody could do internally that could change that other than us. Just, you know, it could be us. Are we putting too much pressure on ourselves? Like that’s obviously nothing that somebody in the PGA of America could fix. Like I think there’s there’s a lot of a lot of factors and a lot of things that that maybe we’re just putting too much on ourselves and and we just have to find a way to, you know, play like we did on Sunday more often of just I think we, >> you know, it’s it’s probably a lot of overthinking, probably a lot of overanalyzing. um you know just just dialing in trimming the fat if you will of just realizing what’s important putting focus on that maybe what isn’t important stop putting focus on that. It’s kind of like you said right of of be who you are and and don’t you know if you’re not somebody then don’t try to be that person like just stick to what you what we know and what we’re good at and do that and and maybe don’t try to >> over complicate it which you know maybe we have a little bit. Well, I mean, I think what you just said is is really interesting because like I look I I enjoy the President’s Cup. I mean, it’s fun, but I do think it is a huge disadvantage that the Americans have to do this every year and like you said, the Euros get to stew on this for two years and they get so jacked up for this thing. I do think it’s a sort of a it’s an unlevel playing surface when it comes to that. you know, I I I’d never thought of that or heard that until after until after Beth Paige and and I completely I I don’t think that is why we have been unsuccessful and why we haven’t done well in the Ryder Cup at all. I I think that there is something to be said though of of you know people that say it means more to the Europeans. It just it does. And it’s I I would think that if you know like I I I compared it to if I Jordan [clears throat] misses the RDER Cup team last year, like he can try to make the President’s Cup team this year. If somebody misses the President’s Cup team like they have next year to try to make the RDER Cup team like there’s something of the imagine, you know, if you miss >> like Keegan knowing he didn’t play last year like >> killed him. >> He’s still playing well enough to to be able to make this President’s Cup team this year. like it’s a lot more likely to make the President’s Cup than it is the Ryder Cup in two years kind of thing. So the level of importance of this one is way a lot more knowing that it’s not again for two years versus one year if that makes sense. But again I I don’t think that is a reason why we have not played well. Um but I I could I could buy into of like it means more to them. It it is because it’s you know like it that that would make sense to me. But >> yeah, >> um >> I mean it means it means a lot to a lot of us and and and all of us in the sense of how bad we want to win and I think guys would be shocked of how how upset and emotional everybody gets of just like man like we just kind of start winning this thing and figuring it out when you know again and maybe it’s just us just relaxing a little bit and trying to it’s still golf at the end of the day. >> Yeah. I just I just I loved what Shane Lowry said after he sank the putt to secure the tie and and they went on to actually win the Riter Cup and he said it in that you know that crazy Irish accent to do the coolest thing in the world you know and and and he said it and I just don’t know how many of how many of of the PJ tour players would say winning the RDER Cup would mean more to them than winning the US Open or winning the Open Championship. and and Shane said it out loud this mean and it might have been a somewhat prisoner of the moment thing but you know the way they gear up for this thing I I don’t know how many of the American players would say would you give up two WMaker trophies or the putt to win a WMaker trophy for the Ryder Cup and he said yeah I this means more to me than that >> yeah I think it’s you know I I I mean I caught a lot of flack for it was like 2015 or something I did a sit down with with Mark Rolfing of um in Hawaii and I remember he asked you know, would you this year would you rather win um it was it win a tournament or win a major? No, it was win a major or be, you know, win an away US RDER Cup. I’d be like I’d rather win a US R away US Ryder Cup and everyone’s like blown away. And it’s it is I think you can’t compare and you can’t be like there’s not like a formula of like okay like winning a Ryder Cup is worth like 1.23 tournaments to me. Like they’re both important, right? Like I think doing that whole comparison thing >> isn’t fair to anybody, but it’s um >> it it is I think >> especially being in a way like I I I truly feel like if we were to go to Ireland and get this done in two years, >> whoever is the one that’s making that putt would have the same emotion and say the same thing that Shane said because it does like it means so much and it and it’s it’s such a especially when you’re in an away rider Cup and how unbelievably difficult that is. Like I can’t >> I can’t imagine. So um >> hopefully we’re able to come back in this in a couple years and and we can talk about the whoever was in the US that made it and said the same thing. But um I no I I >> I buy into what Shane said. I mean it would it’d be the coolest thing ever because it’s it’s so much bigger than just you. >> Yeah. Well listen I I’m I’m really hopeful that we’re having this conversation at a Dare Manner in a couple years. that would make me really happy as well uh everybody on the team. Uh all right, listen. I I don’t want to keep you too long here, but um we when Liv started, you had a really interesting sort of press. I can’t It might have been at the Canadian Open. I’m not sure. Someone asked about maybe it was at the PGA. I I can’t remember. You’re like, “Look, I’m sorry they left. I wish they had stayed. There’s nothing I can do about it.” And now we’re hearing that Brooks Kepka may be wanting to come back. Um, what do you think the path would be for Brooks? And what would you need to see happen for him to come back from Liv and play on the PGA tour? Because we’re talking about a guy with five majors here. >> I I got no idea. Um, I mean I that’s that’s definitely for um, you know, I I I don’t know how many different factors or or people or whoever it is that you know that kind of make that decision kind of thing. I think that yeah I I think a lot of us I think even them included the live included just like the tour players are are over this and we just want a scenario or situation where we’re all >> right >> plan but it it is I think you know Rolap said it pretty well it’s like we you know we have the best tour in the world right now and and guys are are you know the tournaments are doing well they’re are growing fans you know at a great rate and um of course yeah they have a a so many great play and the top players in the world. So, like why wouldn’t we want them? Um, but yeah, at the same time, I I don’t know what that path back looks like, but I think >> it’d be nice to to figure out whatever that is. Um, >> and fortunately, that is so far above my pay grade that I don’t have to make those decisions. But I yeah, I hopefully sooner rather than later there’s something that that happens just um just for the betterment of, you know, everybody wanting to watch golf. you know, it’s like I think it’s it the noise is at least settled of of how bad it was a couple years ago or whatever. But, um, >> yeah, >> but I’m sure, you know, but some of those guys are maybe didn’t go how they had planned or how they had hoped to where I’m sure Yeah. It’s like you’re looking and like, man, I like how bad John Grom would love to be playing Tory Pines and Riviera and, you know, the players and stuff like that. I think he’s even said that. But um I’m not sure what that looks like, but hopefully, you know, it it can look like something at some point, right? >> Yeah. Well, I think I think we’re in a really sort of uneasy time in golf because, you know, there’s a lot of things that are sort of up in the air. What are we going to do with the schedule? You know, how are we going to fix this? What if if you had a crystal ball, if you had the power or the pay grade, what would be the one thing you would like to change about maybe the way the PGA Tour schedule is set up? That’s a good question. I mean, I think um I mean, if you if in a perfect world, I mean, you would want to you would want to play in the in the locations with the most amount of fans, obviously, the best golf courses. Um, you know, I think that the field size thing, I think that there’s there’s a sweet spot there. I don’t know what it is. Um, I think there’s something to be said for having cuts. I think it’s a huge part of our sport and our in our game. Um, but then again, there’s I don’t think h I don’t think people understand of how much better tournaments can flow with smaller fields and the in the flexibility of tsums versus threesomes and tusums being an hour faster of a round than a threesome and like there’s just a lot of factors that go into that. >> Um, but you know, little things like it’s you know, we play in California literally the only month of the year that it’s bad weather in California. Like that to me is like >> why we play Pebble where we play Pebble the the when we play it makes no sense. None. >> I know. So I mean there’s little things like that of and and you know I hate it because the beginning of the year is great and we love to do it but it is there’s something to be said against going against football. Like it’s the biggest sport in the world and um I mean I freaking love golf and I’m pretty sure if I could watch a day of football or a day of golf like I’m probably going to be dominantly football and pan back to the the golf a little bit. like it’s >> it’s the biggest sport in the world, right? So, I think finding finding a way to see how they can >> not compete but coincide a little bit and in the sense of just benefiting us, right? I think that and um there’s some version of that of just playing in the right places in the right times going to you know playing in Chicago playing in Boston, New York like some of these the huge markets of you know the the fans in in those Chicago tournaments were always so big and there’s some of the greatest golf courses um that I know guys love going to go play and see. So, I think some version of whatever that montage of stuff I just said put together is is probably something like that of of would be great cuz, you know, to have the chance to play whether it’s in the fall, beginning of the year to do some traveling and, you know, I’d love to place European tour events. I mean, a a a massive massive goal of mine in my career is to win the, you know, the DP tour, the their order of merit and and go over there and and and win that one year was would be huge for me. And I think that, you know, in past it’s it’s it’s had a little bit of um been [clears throat] tough schedule-wise because we have tour events and I’m like, well, how am I going to miss a tour event if I’m missing FedEx playoff opportunity to go play in this? So, it’s um you know, I I think there’s there’s a way to where we just want all the best players playing as often as possible and and you know, in some kind of just more um organized and efficient is probably the best the best way to say it. Listen, this will not come as a surprise to anybody who’s heard me talk at all, but I as a two-time winner of the WMaker Trophy, I would love to see the PGA Championship back in August. It drives me crazy that the basically the major season ends in mid July and we’re on this fever pitch and then this year was, you know, Scotty doing look at the same number of days between his first and fourth major as Tiger Woods. Yep, we’ll see you in April. You know, I I would really like to see that one move back. Do you have any thoughts on that? >> I would love that too. I think um so condensed it’s very I think the >> it’s just it’s a totally different uh wave of golf courses too. Like I think you >> like May it’s it’s a shame that think of the amount of golf courses in the Northeast that are likely >> thrown out because of May. Like I mean for the PGA Championship and like that was ballsy. I mean there there’s >> I mean you know Beth Paige like you look OIL Wingfoot like all these places that we could be going for >> um like [clears throat] how good they could be in August and and to me I’m I love the players and I mean I I want it in March. So obviously I like it but like >> TPC Sawrass in May is unbelievable. Like I think it is so much better in May than it is in March because it’s Bermuda. It’s so much firmer and faster. It’s more difficult. Like you don’t have these like I feel like it is where it’s so soft. I mean it’s March. It’s it’s it’s overseed. It’s the there’s mud balls everywhere. Like it’s it hitting the fairway takes way less skill and shot shaping in March than it does in May. And how how hard it is for the course to get actually get firm in March versus May is is completely different. So, but then again, you know, that kind of goes back to some of the stuff with the scheduling and and and just making it maybe makes sense. But just cuz I like one course more doesn’t mean that it makes sense. [laughter] Makes more sense. >> I I just I know so many like guys at my club would be will be like, “God, let’s just have one more major like let’s have it in August and then we we’ll feel better about it.” So hopefully something comes out of that. And listen, we’re we’re running late on time here, so I don’t want to keep you, but I know that there’s a huge college football contingent >> on tour. And by the way, congratulations. You just made a nice little donation to your alma mater uh for for golf at Alabama. How much smack talk is there on tour between the Georgia guys and the Alabama guys and and everybody else when your college team is doing well? >> [sighs and gasps] >> You know, I think I hate I hate to give them credit because they’re all just freaking run their mouth so much, but like I think the Georgia guys that you know Harry’s like the the n Harris English is like the nicest >> like never going to rub it in your f about anything. He’s just like the best dude ever to where like he and he’s just a college football fan, you know, but you know, you got him and I mean Kiz and and harm would be the easiest to just start talking all the trash and se and it’s like be Todd like they’re everywhere these Georgia guys. But I truly think that the amount of like heartbreak and and and stress that Alabama strictly has caused them and know how easily it can happen that I I truly think that that is keeping them like a little tame toward me maybe. I don’t know. I mean, they can get mouthy, don’t don’t get me wrong, but I they’re probably handling it better than I would be handling it to them. But I think they’ve watched so much heartbreak for Georgia against Alabama that they’re just like it’s really not worth getting into this because I know how quickly it can turn. So there’s um yeah, it’s it’s been a it’s been a nice run for for Bama and Georgia. >> All right. So So I guess we’ll we’ll leave it with this. What would mean more to you? You on your first event back you win or Bama takes down Georgia and wins the national championship? >> Come on, man. Why you got to do that? [laughter] I’m pretty sure my first event back would would be twins. I mean, so if that was the case, then maybe I need to really be strategic about this first event I come back. See you guys in April. >> I say a little piano music, maybe a little green jacket. [laughter] >> Yeah. Hey, we’re we’re, you know, I’m I’m very lucky where Bama snuck in that playoff and hopefully, you know, they they can give it a little bit of a run and and and Todd Hoops, Nate Oats can can make another run in basketball. So, it’s it’s a good time to be be an Alabama fan. >> I love the fact that you won’t even go there with an answer, which tells you how much you really want Alabama to win the national championship. >> Golf tournament. A golf tournament, [laughter] of course. >> Okay. Just checking. Just checking. Well, look, man, I I appreciate your time and uh listen, uh it was so much fun to see you win again this past year. Uh get healthy and we can’t wait to see you back out there. >> Thanks, dude. I appreciate it. >> All good, man. So once again, thanks to Justin for joining us and here’s hoping his recovery from that back surgery gets him back on the course playing on the PJ tour as quickly as possible. And again, we appreciate you watching and listening. And if you like what you see in here, please tell your friends and make sure you click that like and subscribe button, especially on YouTube. It really helps the show grow. We’ll see you next time on another episode of Straight Facts Homie.

Justin Thomas opens up like never before.

In this full-length, wide-ranging conversation with Trey Wingo, two-time major champion Justin Thomas reflects honestly on winning at the highest level, losing confidence, battling expectations, and what it actually takes to stay elite in modern professional golf. From back surgery and rehab, to Ryder Cup pressure, to the mental grind of going years without a win, this is the most candid Justin Thomas interview you’ll see.

Thomas walks through the physical and emotional toll of dealing with a herniated disc and back surgery, explaining how the injury showed up in his swing long before the diagnosis — and why choosing surgery now was about protecting the long-term future of his career. He shares what rehab has been like, how patience has become the hardest part, and why rushing back too soon can cost elite athletes far more than a few missed tournaments.

The conversation also dives deep into the mental side of greatness — the part fans rarely get to see. Justin explains how hard it truly is to win on the PGA Tour, why some of his statistically best seasons didn’t produce the results people expected, and what it feels like to go nearly three years without a win while still believing you belong at the top. He reflects on learning to trust himself again, managing expectations, and how confidence in golf can quietly disappear — and slowly return.

Trey and Justin also discuss:

Why winning on the PGA Tour is harder now than ever

How elite golfers think differently about success and failure

The emotional reality of coming close and not finishing

What team golf reveals about pressure at the highest level

Ryder Cup heartbreak and what the U.S. needs to change

Competing alongside legends like Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler

Why process matters more than trophies — even for champions

Justin also shares personal stories from the Ryder Cup, including emotional moments with teammates, the pressure of playing overseas, and why the event means more than most fans realize. He explains why Europe has had the edge, what the U.S. can learn, and how overthinking may be costing American teams when it matters most.

The interview closes with reflections on legacy, longevity, and what Justin Thomas still believes is ahead of him — not just as a golfer, but as a competitor learning how to evolve.

This is not a highlight reel.
This is the real conversation behind greatness.

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