No Laying Up - Golf Podcast - NLU Podcast, Episode 96: Justin Thomas

Episode Date: September 7, 2017

UPDATED LINK – JT makes his record setting third appearance on the podcast, as we chat about his ridiculous season, a breakdown of the final round of the PGA, drivers off the deck, and everything... The post NLU Podcast, Episode 96: Justin Thomas appeared first on No Laying Up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stay tuned into the FedEx Cup through the PGA Tour app, especially this time of year. You're going to want to keep a close eye on the projected standings. We've seen on the leaderboard a lot, but it's good to see it shot by shot on the FedEx Cup tab. Make sure you're following along on the PGA Tour app. And if you've got a golf trip remaining this year, make sure to swing by ogeo.com. It's ogeio.com. Check out all the ridiculous travel bags, golf bags, suitcases that they have. It's pretty impressive arsenal. We're going to talk a bit more about this later on.

For now, let's get to Justin Thomas. Let's get it right club. Be the right club today. Yes! That is better than most. How about in? That is better than most. That is better than most. Better than most. Expect anything different. Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the No-Langup podcast.

Join today for a record third time first player to ever be on three times. Winner of the 2016-17 PGA championship, Dell Technologies, and Yadiyah, I'm not going to go through all those. JT, what's happening? What's going on? Welcome back. We made a rule that after, so after the first time you came on, I said, you're not allowed back on until you win. So you won the CIMB that year.

And then the next time I said, you're not allowed back on until you win a major. So congrats on sneaking that in. Thank you. I don't honestly remember you saying that but I'll go with it That's totally cool. I might have actually made that up. I thought I'm pretty sure that I've the first the first one It was true that you wouldn't have me on a toy one, but the major thing. I'm not I'm not fully hopping on that band lagging Yeah, no one's gonna go back and listen so you can't sure you wish won't let me have anything just let me have one thing But all right, so how much has life changed since the last podcast we did?

Wow, it's a lot different. Just a lot busier more than anything. You know, just a lot more obligations or, I mean, obviously for good reason, I obviously would take, I'm happy to be doing them versus not because that means that I've played better. But it's just, it's been a lot, a bit of an adjustment in terms of managing my time and just kind of learning some stuff to do versus not stuff to do. But at the end of the day, I just need to make sure that I'm ready to,

you know, to go to your upcoming Thursday. So when we went out in Jacksonville this spring, it was like a Saturday night and I was kind of surprised at how many times people came up to you asking for pictures and stuff, just because golfers in general can kind of fly a bit more into the radar than most professional athletes can. Has that happening even more often than what's happening back in May

or is it like compared that to like a year ago? How much is that kind of part of your fame level changed? Yeah, it's definitely changed a lot. It's more of just kind of the random stuff for random places than I wouldn't really expect. I mean, I'm still not, you know, not near to the level of a lot of guys, but that's the big thing is, it's so, I mean, you really not dedicated, but a pretty true fan or pretty knowledgeable of what the person looks like if you recognize them and without their golf clothes on, you know,

I mean, it's with us without hats on or just t-shirts and stuff like that, it's like recognizing, you know, it's hard to see, no, what a hockey player looks like or a football player. It's just out of their attire. So, it's definitely changed. I mean, I'm definitely getting more recognized, but like I said, I definitely will take that over the alternative. You sampled a new caddy in May. I'm just curious, like, is Jimmy's job still safe? Or what was that experience like having somebody else on the bag?

like is Jimmy's job still safe or what was that experience like having somebody else on the bag? Uh, well I didn't, I've never won anything with that guy so... You were also... You were aiming for bunkers that day so I think you were sabotaging my caddy career. I don't know, I mean I don't know is that I got a couple, I got a couple decent numbers, a couple decent lines that day, but as a whole I Think that's why I played so well that week. I was so happy to have Jimmy back on the bag once You're in the butt play well. You didn't even let me you let me read one putt

And then you didn't even listen to my life. This is this is the sign of a bad caddy right here You're trying to defend yourself. Don't hurt instead of remember it's always the caddy fault. You need to you have to get used to this if you want to be a caddy. It's never the players fault. I don't want this early be a caddy, but I just need to defend my honor here. One of the the takeaways I had from that round was just how much you know when you when you are there for like four and a half hours, et cetera, how much you know when you are there for like four and a half hours etc. How much you hear from the gallery and the things that people say to you and I was just blown away by the lack of creativity and the dumb things that people say. It's unbelievable. It's incredible. I swear people were just saying the word Snapchat to you. That's what that's all they were saying. And spring break.

I mean do you just get that everywhere you go? Yeah, you hate to say annoying. It just needs some new material, man. I'm a fan of bar still sports. I think there's stuff's funny, but if I hear, I'm going to, every Saturday, you hear 4,000 water Saturdays for it. It's so annoying, you know. But it's funny, it's like that song you hear on the radio over and over again, and they play it so much that it's made you not like it. It's kind of what it's like. So, some people definitely can come up with some new material, but at the same time, I'd be fine if they didn't say anything too. Do you get any like, hopefully not,

because again, I don't want to be lumped in the same vein as any of that stuff, but do you get any like, tour sauce calls or ambassador calls? Is that something that's common? Yeah, I'll definitely get, you know, probably at least one or two of those a day, some form of comment.

Usually the, like a guy, there's always someone out there who's wearing some of your shirts and that guy just like, I feel like he feels like we're bonding just by having a shirt on. I feel, I should feel obligated to go have a conversation with them and I'm like, hey man, I shirt but I have to go hit my shot on before. I don't really know what to tell you. For this one, I'll feel it definitely personally responsible.

Do you get any grief for your drivers off the deck? Yeah, I will sometimes. I'm trying to think not crazy amounts, but it's every once in a while, it'll definitely come out or if I'm playing with somebody that does it, then they'll give me grief. And it's like, man, I can do it now. I thought I was over this, but like you said,

people don't forget, so I guess I'm done for. Well, when was the last time you went drive Rathodeck in a tournament? In a tournament? See, it's not over until you do that. You've been telling me, you've been sending videos. I thought I told you, I told you I did it in a tournament. They just didn't get it somewhere. See, that sounds like fake news. It probably is. It's like you,

I'm just making something up to make myself sound good. I don't know. I, it's just not too often that you even have to hit a driver into a part five. It's very rare that a hole is that long, but yeah, we get it. You hit it far. That's fine. Yeah, that was sorry. That was a humble breath. I apologize about that. I don't know. I guess I guess I just have to prove myself right at some point. My favorite was maybe when you said, I think it was in Malaysia before you hit driver off the deck. You text me after and you're like, I thought about you before I did this and then went and chunked it. So I can't wait until the next, you text me after, and you're like, I thought about you before I did this, and then went and chunked it. So I can't wait until the next time you do it.

Does that see to you or what kind of thoughts are going through your head? Yeah, I mean, it's, at this point, it's just kind of a mental barrier, and I feel it. I've gotten over it, you know, it's the driver change to the shallower deeper face, or to a shallower face and longer face versus the shorter and deeper was a big big change for the driver of the deck game for me But you know once you do in competition You can't say much

All right on a bit more serious note. I want to talk a bit about your major season first But I think that story essentially kind of starts back at the US open in first, but I think that story essentially kind of starts back at the US Open. Saturday, 63 was one of the most remarkable rounds of the year, perhaps maybe even in major championship history. It puts you in the final pairing. I want to know how long was that weight between the end of your round Saturday and when you teed off on Sunday? It was a long time, but it wasn't crazy long because I had a lot of media

after that day so I did all that and I think I don't know if I practice after now. I may not have but I mean it's staying in the house and then having my family there I've been Ricky and his family there and his girlfriend my girlfriend like we we had a lot going on, you know, and like we're having dinner, we have breakfast in the morning so that, and what I enjoyed is that the golf that coverage started so early, so I was, I love tell I could wake up and kind of watch the golf in the morning and check out, you know, some of the pins and stuff. So to me that wasn't as bad.

I've had other instances where you really have a hard time passing time But I don't know that one wasn't quite as bad. Did you I mean you came on afterwards I think you said in your press conference you said you like you were relatively pleased with the number 75 for how bad you played Essentially that was like the best number you could have shot based on how you played did you what did you and it's kind of an overarching Cheesy question but like what did you learn from that experience kind of first time being in the final group of the major? You know, just, just still being patient. I think the hardest part or the thing that, that goes so unnoticed about that day is how hard, how much harder it was. I mean, it was, it was blowing pretty hard that day. It was a good, a good 15, 15 to 20-minute hour win and you could get some gusts up to 20-40

I had I mean I don't know how many people watched it or remember I had that chip on four that just short of the green and I part one made a bad bogey on two and then made a good par on three and then four I just short of the green I chip it up there and it goes to about eight inches seven inches of tap-end and then four, I just shorted the green, I chip it up there and it goes to about eight inches, seven inches, a tap end, and then the wind picks up and it blows my ball about five feet under the hole and I miss it. So I mean that was a huge difference right there and then I go buggy the next hole. So it's like the conditions were really hard. So I think I felt like I had to go out and make a lot of birdies still, but I mean it ended up I did need to because

Brooks went off, but in terms of staying in the tournament and having a better finish, you know, maybe that second hole instead of trying to squeeze it, you know, back to that pin just kind of accepting a 10-15 footer short of the hole. And if I miss it, I make par sort of thing. So, I mean patience is such an over said thing by me I think but it's just a thing that I continue to get better at and helping. Do you feel like it made a difference for when you were essentially in the same scenario second to last group a few months later with the PGA? Yes I know I mean the patients part for sure but it was such a totally different golf course in

terms of I'm pars were really good at it. Quill Hollow and paurs weren't great. I mean, they were fine, but they weren't gaining any ground at Aaron Hill. So I mean, I knew I think I started Sunday two back maybe at Quill Hollow. So I had a feeling that if I could just go out and shoot a couple under, you know, I could go in, whereas I didn't know what was going to happen to Ann Hill. So I definitely, in terms of nerves and just being, being calm, being patient, but I mean,

Jimmy did a great job with that and keeping me there probably not better than you would have if you were having fun with me. So, it's just, so that was great. You can't project that on me. You've never given me the shot. You know, of all things, I feel confident that can't project that on me. You've never given me the shot. You know, but of all things I feel confident that I can project that on you. I first I think throwing a caddy into the ring for the first time in a final group of a major I think it'd be pretty uncomfortable

I think I would have been dripping sweat onto your grips as I was handing you the clubs I first of all, I don't think you'd let me even hand you the clubs, but true I was heading near the clubs. First of all, I don't think you'd let me even hand you the clubs. But true. True. What is, and I find you're in Jimmy's dynamic kind of interesting in that,

he's obviously a veteran caddy. I think what is, is Jimmy 59, is that what he is? He, yeah, that sounds right. And that, he doesn't say a lot out there, but you're always looking for that combination for McCatty, the guy that knows when to guy that knows when to say something that you need to hear and when to just shut up. Is there an example or instance of when he does speak his mind

that kind of surprises you or just like anything he says to pump you up or prep you for a shot? No, I mean, he never says anything to pump me up. I think he knows that I'm not emotional, but I'm fiery and I have to get pumped up for myself. But he just knows what to say, you know, like when I feel like at the best times when I'm playing well and I just can't get anything going, you know, like on, it was easy on this past week on Monday, you know, and I'm, I'm three under through six and I'm getting lapsed. I mean, really, I am Jordan's 600 through seven and leash was 400 or 500 through seven. So it's like, I mean, what am I doing out here, you know?

And I was hitting good shots and I had a chance to make more birdies. But he's just like, you know, just keep hitting our shots and that good things will happen. We just keep doing what we're doing and the rest will take care of ourselves for our things. So that just kind of keeps me calm, it keeps me patient in those situations.

So back to the PGA, and I got a bunch of stuff to talk about for the PGA, but we chatted earlier in the week I ran into you and just kind of saw you on the putting green, and I said I was like, you gotta love this place. And your eyes lit up and you just kind of nodded, like yeah, this is the place for me. But you went out and you shot 73 in that first round. Were you just like chomping at the

bit to get back out there like I still know this place is perfect for me? Yeah well I am and I played I played pretty well the first day or I played a lot better than 73. I just I mean I couldn't have got any less out of my round and it just was one of those days, where just kind of things aren't going your way. And you feel like you hit some good putts that just don't go in or this and that. And I mean, that really was a huge, huge swing

in the tournament for me. My third day round, I'm four over, no, I'm three over going into my 17th hole number eight. I hit the fairway to back that kind of that middle ish, that back middle pin on that little tier. And I'm in the middle of the fairway and I just flag a 52 degree and I hit it too hard and it flies the green and goes over the green

on the down slope and the rough. I mean, just autoboggy. I mean, the worst place if I gave you a ball and said, go put this in a place or I can't get it up and down, you would have put it about right there. And I hit an unbelievable chip, too, about 10 feet, and I made that, and then I birdied nine to shoot two over. So that was a huge, huge swing, whereas if I don't get that

up and down on eight, I mean, nine's a hard hole, I easily could make a par if not bogey. I end up shooting 75 maybe 76 then I mean now instead of trying to get back in contention I'm just trying to make the cut and that was it that was just a that was a really big swing I felt like in the tournament for me. And then I mean you shot came out shot 66 on Friday you're back you're right back in contention but the mo to me again it's kind of it's kind of a pointless act

to separate out your what your best round of that week is, but Saturday, the conditions were absolutely brutal, and you held serve down that final stretch that was playing so tough, especially those last three holes that day were playing so tough. Did you feel like after getting through that stretch that your chances of winning the tournament had changed? Yeah, I think it was, that's just really when I, now that I'm kind of saying it

and thinking about it, that's probably when I felt the most confident I have about winning the tournament or just felt so calm for what I could have been in that situation because I just didn't feel that Saturday was that difficult. I mean I knew it was tough but I just was in so much control of my game. I was in such control my short game. I was my mental game was probably the best it's ever been and Jimmy and I just had a great game playing for the course and we were executing it. We were putting it the ball where we needed to and if we missed the green I was getting it up and down So although it may have looked like a hard fought with a two, three under a shoot, I think three under a shot,

I really, I just did everything I needed to do and everything I felt like I should have done. So to me, when I got done and everyone's like, you know, there's a great round at a really difficult day, I was like, you know, I felt like I just kind of went around and did my business. So, you know, I guess that was calming about it. around and did my business. So, you know, that I guess that was calming about it. Before we break down the final round of the PGA Championship with JT, I want to talk to you

guys a bit about OGO, our friends at OGO, you can be found at ogeo.com, OGIO. I've got the mutant travel bag. I've been using this for my trips. And I, it's almost unexplainable how much space there is in this bag. I got my bag up to 70 pounds, and I had to pay about 150 pounds worth of extra baggage fees, just so how much stuff was able to fit into it. And there's also another bag at OGO called the Black Ops Savage Travel Bag, and a portion of the proceeds from these purchases support the NS2 program, which

helps train and employ veterans. So swing by OGO.com and check some of these out for yourself. I promise you will be impressed with the products. And then Sunday, you go off to a rough start, you go bunker to bunker to bunker on the first hole and make a twisting about 12 footer to save bogey on that first hole. Was there any panic at all? Was there any sense of like, here we are. This is Sunday at the US Open again,

or was it a totally different reaction? I mean, that was about a solid 18, 20 footer, I made out of one by the way. Oh, no, not that. It was 100, 1000% over 15 feet. I'm pretty sure it was 18 feet, but we don't need to get into that I'm gonna look this up for the record right look it up right now. I guarantee you it was over 15 feet But anyway, I've walked 18 whole 18 holes that okay, well, that's fine. We'll give that to you

That's fine. You won the PGA. I'll give you however linked a putt you made on one You should be more embarrassed that you had an 18 footer on one than you then you know you made on one. But I'm more embarrassed that you had an 18 footer on one than you then you were over. No. It was awful. I mean, I agree. The first bunker shot was so easy. And it just, it was sitting down a little bit, but it was like, that's perfect for that

shot. I just need to hit like a chunk and run. And I, I mean, obviously, I just bladed it. And it was, it was awful. And then the, I mean, the next bunker shot was tough already. And then I didn't hit it well. And that's why it went to whatever feet you want to call it. But that plot was big because at first I thought I had a perfect tee shot and I ended up

going in the bunker that was a lot that I didn't think was reachable so that was a little bit of a shock but I mean I just the same thing, making bogies We're going to happen, but just doubles are so hard to make up. So making that put on one and then getting it right back on two was helpful. Right. So you birdie two, you birdie seven, the par five, and then you hold in a lengthy put on nine. You go, oh, you get a nice break on 10, which I heard you describe as that they owed that to you. It's debatable.

That was a ridiculous break. Get out of here. I hit the same, okay, I hit the same tree the day before and it went 40 yards into the woods to the left. That's, when you hit trees, it's supposed to do bad things. When the trees seven yards off the fairway, my ball was gonna be in the edge of the rough. Do you, when you go bowling, do you use bumpers?

I don't bowl very often and I suck at it anyway. So don't compare my brakes and a golf course to bowling. Well, I'm just saying, if you're expecting, that's somebody that uses bumpers would expect that tree to knock that in the middle of the fairway. Anyway, it's time to point. Yeah. The next shot was like from 300 yards,

and you went over the green with three wood. Yes. You chip up to five feet, and then take me through the birdie putt. Boy, I'm first off I'm gonna start with your length of putts for being a knowledgeable golfer or horrendous. How far was this one now? Eight feet. Oh my gosh.

For sure. Wow, I hope there's shot tracker info for all this because I will go look this up. Oh, that's fine. Please, please look it up. All right, so you got a shot tracker info for all this because I will go look this up. Oh, that's fun Please, please look it up. All right, so you got a 25 footer for birdie on 10 Walk me through what happens here Yeah, after just a just a terrible chip. I I just was so worried about leaving it below the hole because it was I mean it wasn't a tough end from where I was, but out of that, that Bermuda, I mean, I can come out so different.

So I felt, I was kind of playing against the, the coming out really hot to, if it got really hot and went passing, then I ended up in it 30 feet past. I just kind of tried to, you know, get something around the hole underneath the hole and then it just came out dead and it was a bad, bad ship. So yeah, I have that button. I called Jimmy in and it was kind of a

weird read because the first I kind of had it. I read it pretty straight and it was one of those you're having a hard time finding something which usually means it is straight but the grain that second half of the pot was going left to right and it looked like the slope was a little bit too. So we had it read straight to where it was going to go right to left at first and then it was gonna go left to right Is at the end is it lost speed so I Hit it, you know I tried to hit a little softer to make sure that green caught it there at the end and I usually don't hit my puts Very hard anyway from that distance. So it was an easy adjustment for me

But it went left and then it just never came right and I Was baffled first off, but it is weird as it is. And you probably won't believe me, but I've told everybody that. So I mean, when that ball stopped in the lip, I'm like, there's no way that this doesn't go in. This is going to fall in. Like the whole green goes this way.

The grain more importantly is going that way. Like it's just, it's has to drop. And yeah, I didn't even see it. I turned her, I kind of was in shock at even see it. I turned around and I looked at Jimmy and then as I'm looking at Jimmy, the crowd goes nuts, I turned around and my ball wasn't there. I was like, oh, that's cool, nice for her. And then the sauce that you sprayed after that? That's right, yeah, yeah, I gave a little tip of the cap and then I gave you a little Jordan truck.

Is this becoming like your thing now, the shrug? I don't know. It's just that it's a, I feel like it's a very usable thing, you know? It's not, I'm not trying to overdo it. It's just like, I mean, hey, sorry, my ball went in. When are I supposed to do? Because you were, you were like dead serious, super focused that entire round essentially, but that was like your moment

that you only moment really where you cracked as far as like laughter or you know, broke stride, I would think for that entire round, is that accurate to say? Yeah, I'd say so. Yeah. So then the chip in on 13, you miss left. So what were you, I mean, by your estimation,

probably 60 yards away, I'd say you're like two yards off the green uh... is that was it is that a chip you're even thinking about holding at any point not really and i mean uh... i wish that everybody that was watching that saw my reaction new where i thought my ball was going to go so they could understand why i

reacted the way i didn't the tea i mean it was a pretty good, the ball was going so far because it was so hot and you have all that adrenaline going and just the ball was going forever and it was almost like you were clubbing down at that point and and especially that pin you want to be under the whole anyway and anytime you double cross it or pull pull draw it I mean it's going to go farther so I really thought my ball was going to land about cross it or pull draw it, I mean, it's gonna go farther. So I really thought my ball was gonna land about where it was and then it was gonna kick up in the long rough and I literally had no chance to get up and down.

So I was extremely pleased to see it land on the green and then just go into the first cut. And that was just a chip. Yeah, I was trying to get it, I mean, with a deck you didn't hit a very good chip. And I knew that I think I was tired for the lead at that point with with the four others or something like that. And I just was trying to get it around the hole. Obviously was was playing to try to make it because it's you know if you I feel like you'd be trying to make something a smaller target

you miss smaller but it was one of those things once the hardest part was reading the lie because like I said earlier with like the chip on 10 that first cut is so It's difficult to judge because it's it's so short that you think it should come out fine But it's so grainy that sometimes it'll come out dead and you just have to make sure you get ball first So that's kind of was my main focus and then once it started rolling you know, it looked good It looked good and then then it just dropped. So after that, you got a two shot lead at this point. Did it feel different? Did you think, all right, now I'm in charge.

I mean, it was, you were near five way tie. When you teed off in that hole, you were in a five way tie. And then like everybody, a bunch of people bogeyed, and then essentially you had a two shot lead after that. Did you know that and did it change anything like from a nerve standpoint? Because we'll see how much your revisionist history gets on this T-shot on 14 that we need to discuss.

Because that was quite close to the hazel if I'm going to estimate. I mean, it was more, it just was more of a block than it was off the healer. I just, the one thing I could tell you is I where it wasn't going to go and it was left and I've struggled with that kind of knockdown shot in the past but to start with with what you said yeah I knew that I had the lead I didn't know that it was two shots and I had to think about that finish. There's so many things going to happen I definitely didn't think like okay this is my tournament but I mean I knew that I was in control. I had the momentum. I was playing well. I felt confident, but I wasn't thinking about one of the tournament yet. I was just going through what I felt like I needed to do. And you know, I got so pumped up there. I had to try to calm myself down and get relaxed. And that's just that, yeah, that T-shirt was just such a bad shot. I was

trying to just kind of like sting a, sting a forearm down there and I just got ahead of it and left the face wide open and it just went way to the right. But it was a no terrible spot. You did lay up on that hole all four days, just want to take note of that. Now, let's advance to the 15th hole. Your second shot there.

You laid the sawdover that one a little bit. I'm gonna guess you're gonna say the downslope had to have contributed that I think, but was that also kind of it? Yeah, yeah. I didn't want to blame that one too much on nerves. Well, it's and so I mean it's funny as it is you can look at my Malaysia chunked in the water. Those downslopes, man, I legitimately struggle with chunking it off a downslope. And I don't know when I'm gonna can't get over that, but okay, then this actually all makes sense.

So, in Capalua, when I hit that eight iron on 17, and I looked like an idiot and was walking through it, as I was behind the ball, I'm thinking, like, I literally can't chunk this. If I chunk this, I'm going to hit it in this ravine and I'm going to lose. So it's like, I have to do everything on my power to not chunk this. So that's why I step through. So maybe I should start stepping through when I get on a downslope. But yes, I do tend to struggle a little bit off downslope. Don't take that shot at Kappeloo away from me because you strutted after that one. That

wasn't like a step through. That was a saw-up. It was both. There was a twirl in there. There was a lot going on in that one. There was. So then the nice up and down on 16, 17, the shot you hit. So that moment was just kind of A, Y, it's amazing. It's super lucky when you go to a golf tournament.

And you pick somebody to follow, especially Sunday of a major, and it ends up being where the action is. And kind of just watching you enter that theater of so many people around on 17, and hit that shot with all the things that had to be going through your mind. I mean, I hate asking like what was going through your mind,

but essentially were you, was it all positive thinking at that point? It was yeah, it was It was probably just I don't know why I just was in such a calm state that day I mean, yeah, I was nervous at times Yeah, I understood what was on the line, but it's never once was like oh my gosh Like I have a chance to win a major or this or that it's like you know like this is go out and do what we're doing and I Was really I was drawing the ball well that week. I wasn't I was not cutting it very well So that I mean that pin was was so tough. I just walking off 16 green

I'm ever looking over and I'm just like where the hell is this pin like it looks like it's in the water And I have to somehow try to make par right now, you know what I mean? So I somehow try to make poor right now, you know what I mean? So I, yeah, I mean, it just was a shot, a best shot I've ever hit in my life, on the, especially into the circumstances. And, you know, the thing is, it's not talked about as much if I don't make the plot. So I'm just glad I did.

Well, I mean, would you call that the best, that your best golf moment of your life, essentially? Probably, yeah. I mean, that's such a difficult hole and such a hard hole. And I was able to use and judge my adrenaline well, Jamie and I both. I mean, I was trying to fly at 200 yards and there's no wind. And I mean, that's like the most driving range, 6 iron, you

can possibly get for me. And I hit 7. I just was so pumped up and just so much going. And I just I knew that I just knew that that was the right club. And we just had to much going. And I just knew that I just knew that that was the right club. And we just had to trust it and it was. But there's just so little margin for error in that shot when you hit seven essentially,

because if you mishit that, like so many things that go wrong there, that's just why I was just to see that execution was what, that's what essentially won you the tournament. Because I mean, 18's just gonna play a lot differently if you don't have that extra shot lead. And I've known that you're a popular player, but I was a bit surprised that when you walked up, like the 72nd hole, the volume of the JT chant that rang out, do you remember that? Did that affect on you or were you noticing it?

That was one of the coolest things ever man. It was I mean I've never ever in my life had an ovation like that for me and Ever had anything like that chanted and I mean I don't know why the crowds in Charlotte made me feel so Special maybe feel like I was from there. I mean they were cheering me on so hard, but it was, I mean, it truly was unbelievable. And I've never had Goosebumps serve the hero on the back line next and up like it did then. I'd imagine, I mean, you're not gonna be too particular about the situation when you went a major championship, but ideally, you would have liked to have,

you know, Kizner not be behind you, but still technically a chance though, not really. Like, you probably wanted to let out a bigger celebration than you were able to on that green. Yeah, it's weird. I mean, literally all of my wins, I've made a putt inside of five and a half feet. I've never made a 15 footer or anything.

I've had, I think, four tapens and then a three footer and a five footer So it's like it's it's been it's been different. It's not exactly an ideal putt or scenario for you to let something out but obviously With not knowing what was happening with Kisner, but at the same time, you know It's kind of like the same a Boston. It just was Not that I expected to do it not that I was like, okay, you know, this is what came here to do But I just was you know, I was I was happy happy I was proud and in the moment I wasn't,

you know, I just didn't seem like the proper time or I didn't feel it in me to let anything out. You did throw in a very saucy mark, put a coin on the six inch putt knowing that it was for the win. That's what I asked Jimmy. I was like, Jimmy, what do I do? I was like, do I mark this or finish it because market, it's just market just mark it. And I went over and he he was like, it's just the respectful thing to do for Hadekki. Because Hadekki still had to play. He was still fighting to finish second or whatever. He was going to finish. And you know, if I put that out, I'll get a big ovation and he's got to call him off. So I did it for Hadekki.

I would have advised the same for the record. But yeah, that's the ultimate tour sauce move there. Marking a six incher because you know it's for the win. So after you sign, or after you walk up the green, you give a big hug to your dad. I mean, apparently on TV, the narrative was getting destroyed about your dad being a PGA professional, but I don't, I don't, one thing I don't think is fully covered is, is that your dad is your swing coach and that you know He's on the range with you video and your swing and is that is that That relationship has got to be just so unique in that to be able to trust your dad

I don't know that that fatherly aspect you know You know you have it. There's a family aspect that goes with that yeah, there's a golf side, right? So is it are you guys able to totally keep those two things separately in siloed? Yeah, I we've I think we've done a really good job the last two years of separating the two and knowing when when it's student and father son and And he's gotten good at it. I mean, I've gotten on him a couple times of, you know, my dad would just kind of not say things before I would play.

And he would, he just would, I would have to get on to him because it was like, you know, I'm, this is why my coach, it doesn't matter if you're my dad or you're, you know, whoever's going to be my coach, whatever. But I tell me this stuff. I need you to help me. And you know, we're a team or in this, I get you're my dad, but you're still my coach. And I need, I need this from you. So we've gotten a lot better at that. And at the same time, you know, we're both there or doing what we need to do for me to play my best golf. And I'm, you know, I'm getting on him when I need to and he's getting on when I need to. So it's just been a great team work that we've had so far. I mean, every time I see that picture, my dad and I hugging our video of us off the 18th ring, it's one of the few things that just really makes me smile and it just makes me so happy

that we could share that together. Yeah, that's pretty cool. All right, so come after you sign your card, I want you to walk me through the exchange as you're on your way to the to the trophy ceremony. Yes, I saw you and I knew that I had told you earlier in the year that I would win a major just didn't know which one or how many. And when I saw you I with an exfletive in there I told you I told you that I would win a major. Strutton like Vince McMahon out of that that's course to like it was yeah I didn't even I didn't even I wasn't waiting there for any particular reason and you just came we're running up and you're like I told you you I was going to effing win a major this year. And porners didn't ask me, it's jaw just drop.

It's like, that's seriously just happening. Because I didn't even remember you saying that. But that was like etched in your memory that you had called your shot. Well, it's not like I was thinking about it during the day or anything like that. And I just, I don't, I truly don't know when or how or I think I just came out It and that was after I realized that I had one and then I saw you and then I remembered that I told you and it just it seemed right Do you have any other you have made other predictions to me privately do you have any of those other that you're gonna share? No, I don't think so you You made one after you shot 59.

That was pretty. All that I would do it again. You said you were gonna shoot 58. Like you will shoot 58 in your career. I probably will. I'm probably well. It was a lot more authoritative when you said it. I'm sure when you,

Well, I said it in a text message. You read it in whatever tone you want. I will find that one if you want me to. It's pretty authoritative. You're a typical revisionist history there. So you jetted out of town that night. Did was there like a big celebration on the plane? Or how did that, or was it kind of,

I feel like in general golf celebrations ended up being kind of a let down. Yeah, I would say it's more not that night. I mean, I would say the only thing that's probably that night kind of a crazy celebration would be a team event. Just, I would think because it's kind of everyone on Wands and whatever. But the thing about when you win,

and I mean, I had a good three hours of media. I mean, I finished probably my round at seven o'clock. I didn't leave the golf course till 10 10 30 or so. Um, so I mean that was, that was, you know, sprinkling a couple, a glass of wine and here or there between, you know, stops in the media or or or a toast to champagne and it just was like, I got done and I'm driving to the airport and I'm just like, man, I am exhausted. And I mean, I had a butch arm and flew with the home with us and my mom and my girlfriend and then Ricky and Allison. And Ricky, I think Ricky and Allison and my girlfriend

slept and my mom just kind of sat there. And I had a couple beers with butch and we just kind of be asked and told some stories. So it wasn't anything crazy. I mean, I didn't get home to the house probably until, 1 1 30. And I was so tired, but wired at the same time. I just laid in bed till like 3 3 30, just kind of all my phone,

reading stuff, looking at stuff. And I would say late in the week, I was able to unwind a little bit. But in terms of the night, it wasn't much. Well, did I hear you say after this week, you know, I was able to unwind a little bit, but in terms of the night of, it wasn't much. Well, I did I hear you say after this week, after you won the Dell that you said that you were more nervous in the final round of the Dell technologies than you were in the PGA? I was nervous in Boston to find a round. I don't know why or what caused it, but I just was, I don't know, I just had that feeling and I had was, I don't know, I just, I had that feeling and I had kind of the tingling going. I just, I had a little bit more of that one that I did,

EGA, and I don't know if that is because I was that comfortable with the PGA or it's just the way it was in Boston, but yeah, I'm just sure. I mean, does it feel different when you're in contention, like now that it did like a year or two ago? Because it looked to me when you like watching you play on Monday, like it was it just felt kind of more routine And you didn't I mean you weren't showing the nerves at all or it didn't look any different And it just looked like the whole thing felt really normal to you So does it feel different to be in contention? It does. I'm extremely comfortable. I'm I have just a lot of confidence. I feel that I feel that I'm going to do whatever I need to do to get it done, whether it's going to make a lot of

birdies or get up and down or whatever it is. And I understand it's not going to be that way my whole career. You know, there could be stretches where I don't win for a while, but I just I feel like if I can get myself there, then I feel really, really comfortable and confident, but I can get it done. One of the basically essentially the only main criticism I hear of you, and people, people, people direct this at me as if there's something I can do about this, but I don't know if I wouldn't be curious if you hear about it as well, and is that you're demeanor sometimes on the course and your body language, you know, kind of syncs sometimes. Do you hear a lot of that?

Do you, like is that a criticism that you are, anything you're working on in that regard? Yeah, I mean, people, I'll just read it on social media. People tell me I'm a crybaby or I want a lot and this and that. But, you know, at the end of the day, I, yeah, I wanna be a role model to kids. I wanna be someone that kids look up to, but I could not care less about what some random Josh most says about me that's sitting in his parents basement, you know, tweeting about me. So I get it. I mean, I don't want to be out there

looking like I'm a sour pus or or complaining or whining, but I mean, I'm an emotional player. I'm fiery and I mean, if you want to see a totally different person and a totally different personality out of me then yeah, I'll show no emotion And I I probably won't be a very fun person and very fun to follow, but it's just that's my you know, that's my character That's who I am. I mean you don't ask you know, you don't ask people to change their personality and change who they are You know, there's things that they can get better at and my attitude has gotten better and I have definitely, I feel like changed and gotten more patient and not let my emotions out as much, but you know, there is a random time here and there if I do slam a club and it's not like I'm doing that because I think it's cool or it's just this or that. It's just my way of dealing with it.

And I am trying to get better at it. But at the same time, I'm not going to completely change. I am just to satisfy those couple of people, you know, at home that, that think, um, I'm some, some, uh, some little, uh, spoiled kid, you know, that's fine. I mean, this is as long as people just direct those tweets straight at JT. I don't need, I don't need to see those anymore. Um, so all right, moving on to Presence Cup. Has there been parings talk yet?

Have you guys, is there anything going on there that you can share yet or what's not really? Just because, you know, with the team just being decided, I think, that kind of let all that, you know that unwind. And also, a lot of us are trying to finish off the season well. And I mean, yeah, we're going to have talks. We'll probably have a dinner here and there in each event. But at the end of the day, we'll talk about it at some point.

But we're at this point. I think Strick knows that. We're focused on playing you know, playing finishing off the season strong and finishing on the FedEx Cup strong. You know, I think we have such a strong team that you can put a lot of us with anybody and it'll be fine. It's just of the ones that wants probably Atlanta finishes up and then once we get to Liberty, we'll have a lot more serious talks about it, I would think. I mean, if you're not pumping up the crowd crowd on the first tea coming out like in an American just draped in the American flight

I mean, what are we even doing here? What are we what what's all this for if you're not doing that on the first tea? Well, I mean, I know I can't really top you know period coming in on the bald eagle or anything, but I'll do my best I mean does it is it how much does it eat at you that you were not selected for the Ryder Cup team last year? Are you carrying a bit more of like an extra FU? Like this is, this is the player I am, this whole season and into this event? Definitely. I mean, I'm not carrying the FU idea or anything around. I mean, it's socked. I hated that I wasn't a part of the team and I still do But and I felt that I could have played but I I just at the end of the day

If I just sort of played better it wouldn't have been an issue and I wasn't consistent enough I didn't you know if I would have won one more time or if I just would have Finished a little bit better and a tournament here there Then I would have been on the team and I wouldn't have to worry about it. Ryan deserved to get picked. I mean, he played great and he was peaking and he had a great rider cup, so you obviously can't argue with that and USA won. So everything Captain Loved did was awesome and I just wish that I could have been a part of the team, obviously.

That was a trade answer. You were ready for that one. That's one you've given before. I'm with you. I'm with you. I'm with you. Last couple of them, I'll let you get out of here. So you're essentially, I think you more than doubled your,

you definitely have you more than doubled your career earnings this year alone. What, if you won the FedEx Cup, that 10 million more, how much would that change your life? And how much has the additional earnings this year changed your life, if at all? Um, I, you know, just a lot of little things. I mean, I, it's nice to be able to treat yourself obviously. And I, I mean, I, I'm one that I'd like to reward myself. I like to set goals like,

okay, it's like I did in Malaysia. I was like, if my next win, I'm going to get a Range Rover. I wanted Malaysia. I got my self-range Rover. And then I had an unfinished part of my house. And I'm starting the year. I'm like, at my next win, I'm going to start working on that and build something there. And then I went in Hawaii. So that's in the process of being built. And then I never didn't really do anything for a major. But I did say that my next win I'm going to, I still have the first, the first car I got when I got my tour car to BMW and I I told my mom my next win that I would give her that car and I'd buy a different one So I'm currently

I'll be in the search sometimes soon of getting another car and giving her that one so I'm not sure what I would do. It's not like I've I'm out there blowing it, you know, that's not the cool fun answer. I'm sure you're looking for, but I knew at the end of the day, man, it's not like we just, we don't, if sure if we had a month or two off or we could just go on crazy trips and go spend a lot of money, we may, but man, it's when you're home for a week and you just want to do nothing, but lay in bed and watch TV and then gotta go get ready for the next one. You can't do a whole lot. Yeah.

What do you have like a sneaky new tour sauce move at all? And I think we've talked about your go-to sauce moves in prior podcasts, but I was wondering if you had seen any new sneaky good moves or if you've put one in the arsenal. Put me on the spot 45 minutes in. I know that's a tough one. This is tough. Not much. I mean, I pretty much have the standard stuff that I do. I definitely, I mean, I'll always, if the ball doesn't go where I think it should,

I'm pretty much cheerfiring. I'm going to throw up some grass at the wind and do it. I want to look up at the trees because it once again It is not my fault of course somebody else's fault of course and in that and at that point in time It was the wind it was weather fault and you've mastered the point both directions that you you hit all kinds of different angles with your Wayward drive point I've really impressed how you expanded that expanded your arsenal there very last question I promise so Apparently I made this up But the rule was that you had to win a major to come on for part three manager arsenal there. Very last question I promise. So apparently I made this up but the

rule was that you had to win a major to come on for part three. What is the rule going to be for you to come on part four? Hmm. That's a tough one. I've got one in mind. Oh, well, go ahead. What is it? Masters. You got to have a green jacket. Masters. Okay. When the green jacket and you can come back, how's that sound? Okay, sounds good. And if you want to come back before that, that's probably okay as well. JT appreciate the time, buddy. Congrats again on the unbelievable season. Good luck. Finishing out and I'll see you in Chicago next week. Absolutely, dude. Thank you. Cheers. All right, guys. Thanks for tuning in. Thanks a ton to JT for the time. Apologies for tuning in, thanks a ton to JT for the time. Apologies on the back end here for the audio.

The call connection was not great. I know I've been boasting about our new technological capabilities and sure enough some shaky wifi. I don't know if my under has been cut it off but cut the quality a little bit. But I've spent about four hours editing this. So hopefully it turned out okay. If you guys do get a chance,

reminder to swing on by the ProShop. We've got a lot of things going on in the ProShop right now. Just be, if you haven't been there in a while, you might be surprised with some of the things that are up there. We're getting restocked on a bunch of polos and towels and all that stuff coming up soon as well. Lastly, swing on by the iTunes Review Store. That's what you want to call it.

And drop us a review if you haven't already. That would be greatly appreciated. Stay tuned next week. Should have another very excellent guest. At least one excellent guest for next week. Hope that all comes together. And we'll see those of you out in Chicago. We'll see you out at the BMW.

Cheers, we'll see you next week. Give it a big club. Be the right club today. That is better than most. How about him? That is better than most. Better than most. Expect anything different? Better than most.