Tag: Mike Thomas

Justin Thomas on dad, Mike, wanting to play in the PNC Championship: ‘I’m not getting any younger’

Team Thomas is paired with Tiger Woods and son Charlie in the opening round on Saturday.

ORLANDO – Justin Thomas and father Mike took a trip down memory lane, viewing a collection of old photos of Justin’s swing from as young as 1-year-old to more recent times, which were loaded on to an iPad.

Justin, who grew up to win the 2017 PGA Championship among 13 PGA Tour titles, smiled at the sight of himself whacking a golf ball with a plastic club.

“Not much has changed there,” he said.

And then there was the photo at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, which Mike identified as Justin’s 13th birthday. It had become a family tradition to play at a nine-hole course to celebrate Justin’s big day. This time, he was told that the family had to stop at Valhalla so his mother, Jani, could drop off some catalogs. When they arrived, Justin got quite the surprise with a round of golf at the home of past PGA Championships and the 2008 Ryder Cup.

“He was pretty fired up,” Mike said.

That would sum up Justin’s reaction to teaming with his father this week in the PNC Championship, a 20-team scramble competition among major champions and winners of the Players alongside a family member at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Grande Lakes Resort.

PNC Championship: The field, tee times, TV times, format

The tournament, which dates to 1995, historically paired a major winner with his son or daughter. It was 2017 when Justin Leonard became the first major champion to play with his father, Larry, 76, opening the door for Thomas, and potentially the likes of Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth in the future, to play in the event formerly known as the Father-Son. Last year, Thomas played in the Presidents Cup in Australia the week before the 36-hole exhibition, so passed on the invite, but when he heard that Tiger Woods and son Charlie were considering playing, Team Thomas jumped at the opportunity.

“My dad’s exact quote was ‘I’m not getting any younger,’” said Justin, whose father is 61. “We figured let’s give it a shot and have some fun.”

Mike Thomas is pro emeritus at Harmony Landing Country Club in Goshen, Kentucky, and competed on mini tours before settling into teaching. He’s got some game, Justin says, though it may be a bit rusty.

“The biggest challenge for him is length. His game is respectable. He just doesn’t play anymore,” Justin said. “He’s going to be plenty helpful. I hope he tries to have as much fun as I do.”

Team Thomas is paired with Tiger Woods and his 11-year-old son Charlie in Saturday’s opening round. When Justin was 7 years old, he watched the final round of Tiger’s playoff victory over Bob May from the clubhouse at Valhalla at the 2000 PGA Championship. It was a moment that spurred Justin to pursue a career as a Tour pro. Justin and Tiger have formed a close friendship and teamed up at that Presidents Cup a year ago.

Among Mike Thomas’s most promising junior golfers? None other than Charlie Woods.

“Mike’s been impactful in him enjoying the sport and it’s so much fun for me to see Mike share a lot of his ways that he was able to spend with his son and we’re enjoying that,” Tiger said, noting that Mike’s been involved in Charlie’s development as a golfer “from the word go.”

For Team Thomas, it doesn’t really matter how they play this week in their tournament debut, it’s about quality father and son time competing on the golf course, just as they have done all the way back to Justin whacking balls with a plastic club.

“I don’t think I can put into words how cool Saturday is going to be,” Justin said. “This is going to be a great memory for me.”

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Does Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, talk trash as well as his dad? Justin Thomas says ‘Yes.’

Justin Thomas says that Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, can talk trash with the best of them and wants a piece of him at the PNC Championship.

Like father, like son, at least when it comes to trash talking.

That’s what Justin Thomas says about Tiger Woods and son Charlie.

Speaking ahead of the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico, Thomas said that Charlie, 11, was just itching to play for the first time in the PNC Championship, the two-person best-ball silly-season event pairing a major winner with his father, son or daughter.

“For some reason, Charlie just always wants to beat me, it doesn’t matter what it is,” Thomas said. “Although he’s never beaten me in golf or a putting contest, he still talks trash just like his dad. It will be fun. We’ll have that like inner tournament within a tournament, trying to shut his little mouth up, but it will be fun.”

Thomas, 27, winner of the 2017 PGA Championship, is making his first PNC Championship appearance, too, with his father, Mike, a PGA pro.

“It’s going to be very special for us,” Justin said. “Probably won’t be near as competitive as Charlie will be, but it will be down in there somewhere.”

Just last week, Charles Barkley tabbed Tiger the best trash-talker in golf. Although Thomas didn’t delve into specifics of Charlie’s trash-talking prowess, he has before. He previously recounted that when he walked over to say hello to the Woods’ family in the clubhouse at Augusta National after finishing his final round at the 2019 Masters, Charlie welcomed him with this zinger: “Oh, hey, look, it’s the guy who can’t putt.”

Not bad, kid. Thomas also noted that Tiger told him that Charlie not only wanted to play, but specifically requested to be grouped in a foursome with the Thomas’s. Don’t be surprised if his wish comes true in the opening round. That has the makings of Must-See TV.

The PNC Championship will be held Dec. 17-20 at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club Orlando.

Bengals’ Mike Thomas stepping up for Joe Burrow with Tee Higgins out

Cincinnati Bengals WR Mike Thomas is the one stepping up with names like John Ross out.

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In an unexpected turn of events, it’s Mike Thomas stepping up for Joe Burrow with the Cincinnati Bengals while John Ross and Tee Higgins miss time.

Thomas, who signed a one-year deal with the team in free agency, was the guy lining up in the base offense alongside A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd early this week.

With Ross on the reserve/COVID-19 list and Higgins out with a minor injury, it was Thomas stepping up and finding a nice connection with Burrow during drills.

Thomas was a Zac Taylor connection in free agency, as he started his career with the Los Angeles Rams as a sixth-round pick and caught just 10 passes over four seasons. But his big contributions came on special teams, where he figured to make the biggest impact in Cincinnati if he made the final roster.

It’s interesting to see a Taylor connection ascend so quickly over others such as Auden Tate, so it’s something to keep an eye on as camp continues, especially if Ross and Higgins don’t get back soon.

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Father Thomas takes over son Justin’s bag when caddie can’t finish round

With the heat index hovering in the 100-degree area, Justin Thomas sensed something was wrong with his veteran caddie.

DUBLIN, Ohio – Good thing Dad was walking with the group.

On a scorching Saturday at Muirfield Village Golf Club, where the heat index hovered in the 100-degree area, Justin Thomas sensed something was wrong with his veteran caddie, Jimmy Johnson, during the third round of the Memorial.

“Jimmy just wasn’t feeling well. He was feeling dizzy. I could tell he was light-headed and just didn’t have a lot of energy,” Thomas said. “I told him on 12 that if he needed to leave, he needed to leave. Just to make sure that he’s OK versus both of us worrying about it out there, and I hit my tee shot (on 13) and I came out and Jimmy was gone and my dad was there.”

That would be 60-year-old Mike Thomas, who is his son’s coach. If the elder Thomas hadn’t been there, the younger Thomas would have been hard-pressed to find a replacement because spectators are not allowed on the course.

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So while Johnson was getting attended to, Mike Thomas took over. Johnson, the longtime bagman for Steve Stricker, has been with Thomas since 2015. Since then, Thomas has won 12 PGA Tour titles, the 2017 PGA Championship and FedEx Cup and was the PGA Tour Player of the Year the same year.

“I’m going to fine,” Johnson said in a text to Golfweek. “Just dizzy.”

The caddie switch did not go well. Thomas, who last had his dad on the bag in the 2018 Sentry Tournament of Champions, birdied 13 but bogeyed 15, doubled 16, bogeyed 17 and birdied 18 to finish with a 3-over 75. He’s tied for 24th.

“I didn’t make those bogeys because my dad was caddying, it was just poor execution,” Thomas said. “In a couple weeks or one day, nobody will remember it. But right now, yeah, it’s a bummer.”

Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas plays his shot from the fairway on the ninth hole while his caddie Jimmy Johnson looks on during the second round of the 2020 Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY SportsFather Thomas has become a familiar face on the PGA Tour as he’s basically with his son from the range to the first tee to the 18th green at nearly every tournament his son plays. But carrying 40-45 pounds is a different story.

“It’s player and caddie, it’s not coach and dad,” Mike Thomas said. “Just trying to ask him what he wants me to do and trying to get him in in fewer than he got in.

“(Johnson) said he just didn’t feel well, needed to go in. Obviously with the heat and everything, that’s what he needed to do.”

The forecast is calling for an even hotter day come Sunday. The oldest Thomas will be ready if called upon again.

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Bengals use Zac Taylor connection to sign free-agent WR Mike Thomas

The Bengals added a WR in free agency.

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The Cincinnati Bengals figured to address wideout at some point this offseason.

Quietly, the team did so during free agency by adding former Los Angeles Rams wideout Mike Thomas, per the league’s transaction wire.

The Zac Taylor connection here makes for an interesting one. Thomas, a sixth-round pick in 2016, caught just 10 passes over four seasons with the Rams.

Perhaps more importantly, the Southern Miss product was a key element of special teams as a gunner for the Rams. Otherwise, he played just 34 total offensive snaps last season.

Taylor should know all about Thomas though as he spent time as the Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach. If nothing else, this is a familiarity signing for both parties and perhaps an underrated one that secures a player who could end up making the final roster.

Thomas will have some tough competition at the back end of the depth chart up against guys like Stanley Morgan and Damion Willis.

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Rams free agent Mike Thomas signs with Bengals

Mike Thomas spent the last four years with the Rams.

The departures keep coming for the Los Angeles Rams with yet another player signing elsewhere. According to the league’s transaction wire, the Bengals have signed free agent Mike Thomas.

Thomas spent the last four years with the Rams, but he contributed very little as a wide receiver. He caught 10 passes for 144 yards since 2016, playing just 238 total snaps on offense. He mostly played special teams as a gunner, using his speed in that phase of the game.

Last season, he appeared in all 16 games but played just 34 snaps on offense.

Thomas reunites with Zac Taylor, who was previously the Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach in 2017 and quarterbacks coach in 2018.

Rams 2020 free agency preview: Is Mike Thomas’ time up in L.A.?

Mike Thomas will be a free agent and it’s time for the Rams to move on.

Mike Thomas has played his entire career with the Rams after being drafted in the sixth round four years ago. In that span, he’s only caught 10 passes for 144 yards in 40 total games. With numbers like those, many are wondering how he’s stuck around so long in Los Angeles.

Thomas contributes on special teams as a gunner and on returns in some cases. He’s played 536 special teams snaps in four years, which is nearly double the 238 offensive snaps in the same span.

The Rams kept him through his four-game suspension in 2017 and after he was placed on injured reserve at the beginning of the 2018 campaign, but his time in Los Angeles might be coming to an end. He’ll be a free agent next march and it’s reasonable to think the Rams will move on from the wideout.

  • 2019 stats: 2 catches (5 targets), 14 yards; 1 drop
  • PFF grade: 58.4 overall

Analysis

Thomas caught two passes for 14 yards this season, one of which went for a first down on fake punt against the Cowboys. It was very nearly an incompletion, though, as the ball appeared to go through his hands and hit the turf.

He also had one drop on his five targets, contributing minimally on offense. He did maintain his role on special teams, playing a career-high 213 snaps on that unit.

John Fassel had been his special teams coach for all four years, but with Fassel gone, Thomas might be, too. New special teams coordinator John Bonamego will probably want to bring in his own guys to play on those units, and Thomas may not stand out enough to warrant a spot.

Positional need: Low

The Rams have one of the deepest receiving corps in the NFL. Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Brandin Cooks are expected to be the starters in 2020, with Josh Reynolds serving as the No. 4 receiver.

Thomas only played 34 snaps at wide receiver last season, and that was with Woods missing one game and Cooks another two. Wide receiver is far down the list of the Rams’ needs, even if Thomas leaves in free agency.

Prediction: Signs one-year, $750K deal elsewhere

It’s time for the Rams to move on from Thomas and find a special teams replacement who can also contribute on either offense or defense. Thomas simply hasn’t done enough to make himself a priority for Los Angeles, which makes him expendable.

He’ll probably catch on elsewhere, but the Rams will find a replacement in either the draft or free agency.

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Michael Thomas trolled Vikings fans through their loss to the 49ers

This is the type of trolling I respect

Michael Thomas is one of the very best receivers in the NFL. Apparently, he’s also one of the best Twitter trolls in the league.

While Kirk Cousins and the Vikings were struggling to put numbers on the board against the 49ers’ excellent defense, the Saints’ receiver was on the internet getting busy.

This is the peak of pettiness for Thomas. Sure, the Saints lost to the Vikings last week. Still, he came right back to the Internet to let Vikings’ fans know that they’d be sitting on the couch right next to the Saints for the rest of the playoffs.

He let them know that their offense broken. It was mean.

He also let them know that whatever yards they were getting after the game was out of reach didn’t really matter.

And remember when Stefon Diggs did the “Choppa Style” dance before shaking Sean Payton’s hand last week? Thomas ain’t forget about that.

I’ve got to say, this is the type of petty I respect. When you can come back after a loss and still talk trash? You can’t do anything but respect it as an opponent. Shoutout to Thomas.

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