Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas Bio

Justin Louis Thomas (born April 29, 1993) is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour. He rose to prominence in 2017, winning five tour events along with the FedEx Cup, and has since established himself as one of the most accomplished players of his generation. A former world number one and two-time major champion, Thomas has remained a fixture in the upper ranks of the Official World Golf Ranking and a regular presence on United States team competitions.

Across his career, Thomas has collected 18 professional wins, including 16 on the PGA Tour, and has earned recognition as PGA Player of the Year on multiple occasions. He continues to compete at the highest level of the sport, blending a powerful ball-striking game with a competitive temperament forged in junior and collegiate golf.

Justin Thomas

Early Life and Background

Justin Louis Thomas was born on April 29, 1993, in Louisville, Kentucky, and raised in the surrounding area. He attended North Oldham Middle School before graduating from St. Xavier High School in 2011, where he developed his game against strong local competition. Growing up in Kentucky, Thomas became an avid fan of the Louisville Cardinals.

Golf was a central part of his upbringing. His father, Mike Thomas, has served as the head professional at Harmony Landing Country Club in Goshen, Kentucky, since 1990, providing Justin with daily access to a high-level learning environment. Prior to his junior year in high school, Thomas played in the 2009 Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour, becoming the third-youngest player ever to make the cut in a tour event at 16 years, 3 months, and 24 days.

That early exposure to professional competition helped shape Thomas’ competitive outlook and confirmed his commitment to the sport. With a strong family foundation in golf and a string of promising junior results, he transitioned to collegiate play at the University of Alabama.

Path to Professional Golf

Thomas played college golf at the University of Alabama, where he recorded six individual victories for the Crimson Tide. As a freshman in 2012, he earned both the Haskins Award and the Jack Nicklaus Award, presented annually to the most outstanding collegiate golfer in the country. He was also a member of Alabama’s national championship team in 2013, capping a stellar amateur career.

Following that championship season, Thomas decided to forgo his final two years of college eligibility and turned professional in 2013. He earned his PGA Tour card through qualifying school on the Web.com Tour, the tour’s official developmental circuit. In 2014, he won his first professional event at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship and finished the Web.com Tour season with strong results, securing his PGA Tour card for the 2015 season.

Justin Thomas Career

Early Career (2013-2015)

Thomas’ first PGA Tour victory came on November 1, 2015, at the CIMB Classic in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where he edged Adam Scott by a single stroke. The performance was highlighted by a course-record 61 in the second round, part of a 26-under-par winning total. He closed the event by holing a six-foot par putt, demonstrating the poise that would become a hallmark of his career.

Earlier in 2014, Thomas finished fifth in the Web.com Tour regular season and third after the Web.com Tour Finals, results that locked in his PGA Tour card. During his 2015 rookie season on the PGA Tour, he recorded seven top-10 finishes and 15 top-25 finishes, including fourth-place results at the Quicken Loans National and the Sanderson Farms Championship. He finished 32nd in the FedEx Cup standings and narrowly lost the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award to Daniel Berger.

CIMB Classic and Asian Tour Success (2015-2016)

Thomas successfully defended his CIMB Classic title in October 2016, becoming the first player to win the event in back-to-back seasons. The victory marked his second PGA Tour win and further established his comfort competing internationally.

The following January, Thomas won the SBS Tournament of Champions for his third PGA Tour title. He followed that with one of the most remarkable rounds in PGA Tour history, shooting a 59 in the first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii to become the seventh player in tour history to break 60. He was the youngest player to achieve the feat. He set tournament records for 18, 36, 54, and 72 holes, as well as PGA Tour records at 36 and 72 holes.

2016-17 PGA Tour: Five Wins, First Major, FedEx Cup Champion, Player of the Year

Thomas’ 2017 season became a defining chapter of his career. After defending the CIMB Classic in October 2016, he added the SBS Tournament of Champions in January 2017 and the Sony Open the following week. During the U.S. Open at Erin Hills, he tied the U.S. Open single-round record with a 63 in the third round, briefly holding the 9-under-par scoring record before finishing in a tie for ninth place.

In August 2017, Thomas won his first major championship, the PGA Championship, by two shots, becoming one of the youngest major champions of his era. He then became just the fourth golfer since 1960 to win five times, including a major, in a single PGA Tour season before turning 25, joining Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and Jordan Spieth in that distinction. After a runner-up finish to Xander Schauffele at the Tour Championship, Thomas was crowned the 2017 FedEx Cup champion on September 24, 2017, capping one of the most dominant seasons in recent tour history.

2017-18 PGA Tour: World Number One

Thomas continued his momentum into the 2017-18 season, winning the CJ Cup in South Korea in October 2017. In February 2018, he won The Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, birdieing the final hole in regulation and again on the first extra hole to defeat Luke List. The win lifted him to the top of the FedEx Cup standings and number three in the world rankings.

The following week, Thomas lost a sudden-death playoff to Phil Mickelson at the WGC-Mexico Championship after firing rounds of 62-64 over the weekend. After the 2018 Players Championship, Thomas replaced Dustin Johnson as the world number one, becoming the 21st player to top the Official World Golf Ranking. He held the top spot for five weeks. In September 2018, he qualified for the U.S. team at the 2018 Ryder Cup, where he went 4-1-0 and won his singles match against Rory McIlroy.

2019-20 PGA Tour: Return to the Top

On October 20, 2019, Thomas won the CJ Cup in South Korea for the second time, a victory that reaffirmed his elite ball-striking on a global stage. In December 2019, he played on the U.S. team at the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Club, where the United States won 16-14. Thomas posted a 3-1-1 record and lost his Sunday singles match against Cameron Smith.

In January 2020, Thomas won the Sentry Tournament of Champions at Kapalua Resort in Maui, Hawaii, defeating Xander Schauffele and Patrick Reed in a playoff. On August 2, 2020, he won the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind by three strokes, a 13th career PGA Tour victory that returned him to the world number one ranking for the second time in his career.

2020-21 PGA Tour: Players Championship Win

Thomas opened the 2020-21 season amid personal controversy after using a homophobic slur during the third round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in January 2021. He apologized and described his language as inexcusable, while sponsors Ralph Lauren and Woodford Reserve ended their relationships with him.

On the course, Thomas continued to deliver. In March 2021, he closed with a 4-under-par 68 to win The Players Championship by one stroke over Lee Westwood. In September 2021, he played on the U.S. team at the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits, helping the United States to a 19-9 victory. Thomas went 2-1-1 and won his Sunday singles match against Tyrrell Hatton.

2021-22 PGA Tour: Second Major Championship

For the 2021-22 season, Thomas employed Jim Mackay as his caddie, with Mackay stepping in after the 2021 Ryder Cup. On May 22, 2022, Thomas won his second major and second PGA Championship, defeating Will Zalatoris in a playoff. He overcame a PGA Championship record seven-shot deficit entering the final round, a historic comeback in one of golf’s marquee events.

2022-23 PGA Tour: Presidents Cup and Ryder Cup

Thomas qualified for the U.S. team at the 2022 Presidents Cup, where he won all four matches paired with Jordan Spieth before losing his singles match. In September 2023, he played on the U.S. team at the 2023 Ryder Cup at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Italy, where Europe won 16.5-11.5. Thomas posted a 1-2-1 record and won his Sunday singles match against Sepp Straka.

Notable Events and Milestones

Thomas’ career is marked by several record-setting moments. In 2017, he became the youngest player in PGA Tour history to shoot a sub-60 round when he carded a 59 at the Sony Open in Hawaii. In May 2018, he became the 21st player to reach the top of the Official World Golf Ranking. His 2022 PGA Championship victory, in which he erased a seven-shot final-round deficit, stands as one of the great comebacks in major championship history.

Justin Thomas Career Wins

Justin Thomas has recorded 18 professional victories across multiple tours, including 16 wins on the PGA Tour, four on the European Tour, two on the Asian Tour, and one on the Korn Ferry Tour. His two major championship wins, both at the PGA Championship in 2017 and 2022, anchor a resume that also includes a FedEx Cup title and a 2020 appearance on the cover of the video game PGA Tour 2K21.

PGA Tour Highlights

Thomas’ first PGA Tour victory came at the 2015 CIMB Classic, where he held off Adam Scott by a single stroke. He has since added titles at the SBS Tournament of Champions, Sony Open in Hawaii, 2017 PGA Championship, Dell Technologies Championship, CJ Cup, The Honda Classic, BMW Championship, Sentry Tournament of Champions, WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational, The Players Championship, and the 2022 PGA Championship. In April 2025, Thomas won the RBC Heritage in a playoff against Andrew Novak, marking his first victory in nearly three years.

Other Wins and Performances

Beyond the PGA Tour, Thomas has captured events co-sanctioned by the Asian Tour and European Tour, including the CIMB Classic and the CJ Cup in South Korea. His developmental circuit victory came at the 2014 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship on the Web.com Tour. He also partnered with Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz Jr. to win the inaugural Netflix Cup in November 2023.

Justin Thomas Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Justin Thomas comes from a golf-centered family. His father, Mike Thomas, has served as the head professional at Harmony Landing Country Club in Goshen, Kentucky, since 1990, providing Justin with continuous access to a high-level club environment throughout his childhood. The senior Thomas’ long tenure at the club has made the Thomas family a well-known name in Kentucky golf circles.

Personal Life

In 2019, Thomas revealed that he had been diagnosed with a form of skin cancer and underwent surgery to remove a melanoma from his leg. He has since encouraged young athletes and fans to prioritize sun safety and regular dermatology checkups.

Thomas became engaged to fellow Kentucky native Jillian Wisniewski in 2021, and the two married in 2022. They welcomed their first child, a daughter, in 2024. The family resides in Jupiter, Florida.

2025 Season Performance

Justin Thomas opened the 2025 PGA Tour season with a return to form at the RBC Heritage in April 2025. He won the event in a playoff against Andrew Novak, sinking a birdie putt from outside 20 feet to claim his first victory since the 2022 PGA Championship. In the opening round, he shot a 10-under 61 to tie the Harbour Town Golf Links course record, signaling a sharp recovery in his ball-striking and short game.

The victory ended a drought of nearly three years and helped Thomas climb back into the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking. The win represented his 16th PGA Tour title and reinforced his status as one of the tour’s premier competitors heading into the heart of the season.

With renewed confidence, momentum, and a return to the winner’s circle, Thomas enters the remainder of 2025 with strong positioning for the FedEx Cup Playoffs. His performance at Harbour Town suggests that his game is trending back toward the elite level that defined his 2017 breakout and his run to world number one, setting the stage for what could be another productive season on the PGA Tour.