Relevance. It’s the crucial singular word in assessing the performance of any PGA Tour player. How does one define relevance?
The application can mean different things to different players. But when boiled down in the world of elite pro golf, it means the wherewithal to climb to the top of the competitive mountain and win.
Tiger Woods said it succinctly when asked a few years ago about being a runner-up in a tournament. His answer cut right to the chase—“you’re just the first loser.”
The ascension of Justin Thomas was very noticeable upon turning professional in 2013 after playing collegiately at the University of Alabama. He achieved his first victory in 2015. By 2017, he won his first major event—the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow—incidentally, the host venue for the same event next month in Charlotte.
Five years later, he captured a second PGA Championship at Southern Hills and amassed a total of 15 PGA Tour titles.
The future for Thomas looked promising, with even more achievements on the immediate horizon.
And then the spigot went dry.
How dry? Bone dry.
Golf can be a fickle game, and Thomas experienced it in a profound manner.
After hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy for a second time, Thomas saw his play in the biggest of events fall noticeably. Since his second PGA Championship title, he has played in 11 majors. He missed the cut in three and had only one top-ten finish—he tied for eighth in the 2024 PGA Championship. At the most recent Masters, he finished tied for 36th.
To paraphrase former NFL coach and Hall-of-Famer Bill Parcells, “You are what your golf score says you are.”
The most debilitating aspect when playing poorly is being asked about it—constantly. The reminder of one’s inability to do what you did so well previously can become more than irritating.
Nonetheless, Thomas was selected as a captain’s pick for the 2023 Ryder Cup, and the pushback was immediate. Golf press and social media bloggers questioned how Thomas was selected when his golf game had hit a clear dry patch. During the matches in Rome, Thomas played well, but in two pairings with Jordan Spieth, it was his partner who underperformed.
Two of the most enduring traits a touring professional must have are a short memory and a desire to constantly keep moving forward. Those keeping the past alive remain in the past. The second aspect is to keep grinding—putting full effort into every swing, no matter the result.
Thomas has seen steady progress throughout 2025. In 10 PGA Tour events this year, he’s made the cut in all of them. He’s also had five top-ten placements, and among them was his playoff victory last week at the RBC Heritage Tournament—the 16th time he’s tasted victory on the PGA Tour. The winless streak dating back to May 2022 is now in his rear-view mirror.
While Thomas had expressed confidence in his ability to return to the winner’s circle, the only clear reality is when one does it. Verbal sounds good—low golf scores say it emphatically.
Winning demonstrates relevance, and to Justin’s credit, he embraced what actor Ed Harris said so clearly in the movie “Apollo 13”: “Failure is not an option.”
The 31-year-old Thomas started the RBC event with a course record score of 61 that included 11 birdies in the first round. Being in the lead after the first 18 holes meant the added pressure of taking matters all the way to the conclusion.
Thomas played a bogey-free final round with three birdies. That pushed him into a playoff against Andrew Novack. The two played the par-4 10th as the first playoff hole, and Thomas settled matters quickly with a 25-foot birdie putt to give him the title.
Returning to the winner’s circle was a long and, at times, tortuous journey. When the bar of expectations rose for Thomas after his second PGA Championship, there was little doubt in his mind he would continue to add wins—including at the major championships.
That sense of inevitability was shattered by the prolonged winless streak.
Humbling—yes. Surrender—no.
Thomas has seen such matters happen to fellow competitors and friends of his on the PGA Tour. Jordan Spieth’s pro career started in a big-time manner, with him winning two majors in 2015 and adding a third in 2017 at The Open Championship. Since that year, the 31-year-old has won just twice on the PGA Tour. The Texan’s play has improved considerably, but the level of dominance he showed early in his career remains a work in progress.
The same can be said for Rickie Fowler. The 36-year-old left the college golf ranks, and the prediction was for an impactful career. In 2015, Fowler finished in the top five in all four major championships and won the prestigious Players Championship. However, since 2020, he’s only placed in the top ten in the four majors just twice. Fowler’s last PGA Tour title came in 2023, and before that one has to go back to 2019—over six years ago.
Returning to the winner’s circle in today’s super competitive pro golf lane is anything but certain. Players today are better prepared than even a few years back. The desire to return to the winner’s circle is a constant motivator. But talking about it and actually doing it are as different as day to night.
Thomas has now risen to sixth in the world golf rankings. Back in 2018, he held the top spot for five weeks. Unless his form completely disintegrates, it’s likely he will be on Team USA for September’s Ryder Cup matches at Bethpage.
Doubt is cancer in golf. The equivalent of a free fall without any parachute can be fatal.
Winning at Harbour Town last week provided a safe landing — relevance restored.
“Justin time”—no doubting Thomas here. Yes, indeed.
