Force to Be Reckoned with

Justin Thomas has been relatively quiet of late, but the former World No.1 is poised for a big year in 2022

- By Brian Wacker. Photographs by Getty Images

Rory McIlroy was holding court with the media on the Tuesday of this year’s USPGA Championship at Kiawah Island’s Ocean course, the session running over its allotted time, when Justin Thomas appeared at the back of the room. He was up next for his pre-tournament interview. The final question to McIlroy, meanwhile, was about the significance of his own 2012 USPGA victory, the second Major triumph of his career. The Northern Irishman decided to have a little fun. “It was huge,” he said, looking at Thomas. “A lot of guys have won one Major, but it’s a big hurdle to get to the second. It was good to get that monkey off my back. I definitely didn’t want to be stuck on one for a long time, so happy to get that second.” Thomas, whose lone Major win came at the 2017 USPGA, could only muster a couple of words in response to the playful jab. “Well played,” he said, shaking his head.

The two exchanged a hug and McIlroy, who has four career Majors, moved on, while Thomas eventually offered a rebuttal, as much as he could anyway. “I can’t really say too much,” he said, “other than it’s great to see him win. I know it’s been a really long time for him, so I’m glad to see him win.” Thomas’ own mischievous dig was in reference to McIlroy’s victory at the Wells Fargo Championship two weeks earlier. At the time, it was the Ulsterman’s first since November 2019, while Thomas had won three times during that span, including the 2021 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Yet as Thomas, who has 14 career wins on the PGA Tour, heads into 2022, questions abound – chief among them being when the highly talented 28-year-old American will get that aforementioned monkey off his back and win a second career Major?