His dog, a golden retriever named Duke, was a gift from friends. Fittingly, Thomas went into the ZDGA Hall with Green, his most famous pupil, and Sam Zoller, the first ZDGA Amateur champion who played at ZCC. He didnt win but Stricks shot 17-under and tied for fourth with rounds of 65-66-69-67. Kostis & McCord Off Their Rockers Ep 1 Youre Fired! You could tell when he was 7, 8, 9, 10 years old, he had something. He missed the 54-hole cut at Firestone but had good company: Hogan, weeks after nearly winning his fifth U.S. Open, also failed to qualify for the final round. He added a new one at the start of the year that is equally meaningful though rarely seen. His round got off to a slow start with pars on the first five holes before a costly double-bogey 6 on the sixth made a comeback all but impossible. "I said, `This is weird, but can you have grandpa sign something?'" While Paul could not attend every event Thomas was playing, he would always cheer him on through television and massively embraced JTs 2017 PGA Championship win. By signing up, you agree to the It was there where Durant met several big-name players, including legendary Arnold Palmer and Sam Snead, to name a few. His grandfather, unfortunately, passed away earlier this year in February. The putter was one of the strongest clubs in Pauls bag. She said, Should I even bother asking? I told her no.. ZANESVILLE, Ohio It has been more than three decades since Paul Thomas was the head golf professional at Zanesville Country Club, but his legacy is one that has remained strong with those who knew him. After struggling early in 2021, dealing with the death of his grandfather and the response to a homophobic slur he muttered that was heard on TV audio, Thomas shot 132 on the He was so well-liked and respected by his fellow PGA members and well-known amateur players.. When asked how much a part Paul played in his Players Championship win, an emotional Thomas said: Yeah, a lot. I remember telling him a long time ago that, as well as he drives the ball, dont spend your time hitting those irons. Jan 30th 1906.March1913,Sept.1914.May 23rd 1916 at Thomas A Edison Incorporated Orange NJ US Justin Kernersville, NC. As he was walking away, he said: Dang man, whyd you do that to me? and raised his arms to wipe away tears with his shirt sleeve. His grandparents presence behind the 18th green was the reason Justin got emotional before hitting the final putt of his four-stroke victory at last weeks World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational. Paul was an old-school instructor I dont believe in theory because no two people are the same, he said whose students included two future LPGA Tour winners, Tammie Green and Michele Redman, and Mike Thomas, the second-oldest of his four sons. He will always be remembered and now I am following in his footsteps as a golf professional.. He played with Arnold Palmer on the PGA TOUR Champions, made the cut in three U.S. Senior Opens and even beat former U.S. Open champion Tommy Bolt in an 18-hole exhibition. Wish you were still here to tell me how many putts I missed on days like yesterday! A result like this just helps confirm what I was already feeling, and that just moves the needle the right direction.. Thomas said he sent a picture of the finished product, which was shown to his grandfather. While Thomas was often outspoken about Green and Redman and their play, he stayed in the shadows when it came to Justin. He won that years Southern Ohio PGA Championship to qualify for the PGA Championship. PONTE VEDRA BEACH The most difficult part of the day for Justin Thomas was not chasing and catching Lee Westwood and Bryson DeChambeau. Justin Thomas walks to the second green during the third round of the Waste Management Phoenix Open. He left school and declared himself a golf professional at the age of 17 and bounced around several clubs. he pursued a Journalism degree and graduated from Madras Christian College. According to The New York Times, Walker's nomination was handpicked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Then he did. A post shared by Justin Thomas (@justinthomas34). Paul served as an assistant pro at several clubs before becoming the head professional at Ohios Zanesville Country Club in 1963. He played in the 1962 U.S. Open and for decades worked at a country club in Zanesville, Ohio. Mike, too, enjoyed a lengthy tenure at one club, Harmony Landing Country Club outside of Louisville, and Justin reaped the benefits. MS: All eyes on Finau, Rahm; all ears on McIlroy, Green wins three-way playoff at JM Eagle LA, Mexico payout: Rahm sets record before May, JT: When U.S. player was intimidated by Tiger, OWGR: Top 50 finalized for Masters, Rory No. Paul Thomas, who died last Sunday, was the head professional there from 1963-88. I'd say this qualifies as something good, he said. Id tell him, The only guy who can screw this up is you. I think we know now that hes done all right.. In a way, Justin Thomas was born to be on the golf course. Tequesta is a short distance from Jupiter, where Justin Thomas and a parade of other PGA TOUR players now live. Aug. 13, 2017. Paul Thomas begat Mike Thomas who begat Justin Thomas, the winner of the 2017 FedExCup and the defending champion at this weeks PGA Championship. His legacy will live on through his family and friends. Will love and miss you, G Pa,. Instant access to the latest news, videos and photos from around the world of golf. The 27-year-old paid tribute to his close friend Woods, who is recovering from multiple leg fractures that were suffered in a serious car crash in Los Angeles last month. Nearly eight decades ago, a young boy trounced through the woods in search of work. At the university, he won the Crimson tide six times. Sometimes he was tough and it kept you on your toes. His best success came in his 40s and 50s; he finished T15 in the 1983 U.S. Senior Open and played with Palmer in the final round of the Citizens Union Senior Golf Classic in Lexington, Kentucky. Justin Thomas learned a lot from his grandfather in his childhood. Justin Thomas got his dog in 2016. Justin Thomas returns to Goshen golf course during off week from PGA tour. I wasnt nowhere near good enough. Ana de Armas. That was a different era. These were the humble beginnings of a golfing genealogy that produced one of todays top players. Thomas said he had the tattoo done shortly before his grandfather died in early February at age 89. Paul was born in 1931 in Ashland, Kentucky, a steel town on the border of West Virginia, but his family moved to Cincinnati when he was 5. Paul left school early to make a living. He won a collection of Cincinnati-area events as an assistant pro at Western Hills Country Club before competingin the 1960 and 1961 PGA Championships. And as much as the lid was open other days, it was closed today.. JT was born in Louisville, Kentucky, to an avid golf-loving family. The advantage was two shots after Thomas birdie on No. Education Justin attended St. Xavier High School for early education. He still managed to save pars on both holes. He later became a club professional and instructor, teaching, among other, LPGA Tour winners Michele Redman and Tammie Green. Its up to you to make something out of yourself, Paul said. All rights reserved. The TOUR was just getting organized. Waste Management Phoenix Open:Photos|Leaderboard | Winners bag. Jerry would knock it close, but PT would threaten the hole about every time.. He was 31 years old, and already had been a professional for 13 years. And after struggling to meet his fathers high standards, Mike also wanted to ensure his son had fun on the course. But the P.G.A. He added a new one at the start of the year that is equally meaningful though rarely seen. since early 2020. Thomas had always wanted a dog, and when he saw Duke, he knew he had to have him. A post shared by Justin Thomas (@justinthomas34). summed it up best when he said: Heaven got a good one.. That one is on the inside of his right upper arm. Neither of his parents played golf, but this son of an auto mechanic had heard that caddying could be a good source of extra income. Steve Stricker, who will soon turned 54, was trying to become the oldest player ever to win a PGA Tour event. Pauls favorite player, Sam Snead, finished third. As the courses have gotten longer and the crowds have grown larger, its become harder for Paul and Phyllis to watch their grandson play golf. Green, whose seven wins included one major, the 1989 du Maurier, lists Paul as the biggest influence on her career. Still, he found himself encouraged with his weeks work, and disappointed with his Sunday disappointments. He was so into that and that passion just sort of spilled over. I know it sure didnt pay much in those days. Paul was a lifelong club pro, but also an accomplished player who competed in the same events as Palmer, Nicklaus and Hogan. He was a good wedge player, but he wasnt as good as PT. It's the signature of his late grandfather, Paul Thomas, the first in a generation of golf professionals. He was hard on himself, so he was hard on me. Paul Thomas poses with a photo with his son Mike, left, and grandson Justin during a round of golf. Paul wont take credit for his grandsons success, though. Thomas' grandfather, Paul Thomas, played in some PGA Tour events in the late 1950s and qualified for three major championships in the early 1960s. Its the signature of his late grandfather, Paul Thomas, the first in a generation of golf professionals. Paul Thomas turned pro as a teenager, but not for the same reasons his grandson made a similar move at age 20. Later in his life, he made the cut in three U.S. Senior Opens. Many of his misses were from inside 10 feet. (AP Photo/John Amis). Copyright 2023 PGA TOUR, Inc. All rights reserved. DIVE DEEPER Nobodys voice would make me happier when I would hear it over the phone. He was known as Grandfather and will be dearly missed by his children and extended family. Golf Channel reported during the early part of its Sunday broadcast that Thomas paternal grandfather, Paul Thomas, had died at 89. He remembers winning the caddie championship a few years later in the pouring rain. The PGA confirmed on Sunday that Paul Thomas died Saturday night at the age of 89. Start here! Thomas said his mojo changed on Friday when he birdied the 16th and 18th holes, one of just 10 birdies on 18 the entire tournament. Terms of Service Only he and Brett Steinhagenhave been head pros at ZCC since Thomas left. He remembers winning the caddie championship a few years later in the pouring rain. during the second round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. Thomas and son Mike, Justins father and coach,and a PGA club professional in Louisville, Kentucky, are members of the Zanesville District Golf Association Hall of Fame. Thomas teaching talent was rivaled only by his playing acumen, Durant said. By then, there was nothing but good thoughts because Justin Thomas head is in a good place again. He won that years Southern Ohio PGA Championship to qualify for the PGA Championship. All Rights Reserved. Hearing about his grandfathers brushes with the games greats stoked Justins passion for the game. Its a sad day. Getting the signature was the tricky part, so he called his grandmother. You worked for him and you couldnt wait to go play., Longtime ZCC member Jim Spargrove, who joined in 1983, said Thomas was the first one there and the last to leave from the pro shop every day., He ran the shop, staged the golf carts, managed the driving range, marked the golf course and played golf and socialized with the members in the grill room, Spargrove recalled. He also made three cuts at the U.S. Senior Open. But he was not so sure as he watched the ballbefore it landed and somehow it bounced toward the hole, precariously close to the edge. I wish I could talk to him, but I know hes watching.. The Thomas men all have strong short games. One of my greatest moments was when he hit a draw on this par-3 and made a hole-in-one. That one is on the inside of his right upper arm. Thomas was born in Ashland, Kentucky, and he left school at the age of 17 in hopes of making a career in professional golf. It wasnt even his tee shot on No. Proud grandfather of Jay Jr. A part of me wishes he was here so I could rub it in his face a little bit more, but Im happy and I hope hes happy. He never made it to the national championship, though. Struggles on the tour led him to a career as a club pro, where he balanced an impressive playing career with his role as pro at ZCC. He quickly established himself as one of the states top players. Paul Thomas, Justin's paternal grandfather, was a PGA professional, too. PT stayed out of the way of Mike serving as Justins instructor as he developed into a PGA Tour star, but he did offer his own wisdom from time to time. Were all pulling for him and Im so glad to hear everythings been going well for him. Wish you were still here to tell me how many putts I missed on days like yesterday! Two of his early assistant-pro jobs took him to York, Pennsylvania, and Tequesta, Florida, where he worked for Ohio native and established PGA TOUR winner Dow Finsterwald at Tequesta Golf Club. Tequesta is a short distance from Jupiter, where Justin Thomas and a parade of other PGA TOUR players now live. Ana de Armas was born in Cuba on April 30, 1988. You get lucky breaks like that. And Justin followed his father to the chipping green, a constant site of competition between three generations of Thomas men. His dad is his only teacher, and thats the way it should be.. He was one of the best players in the southern Ohio section year in and year out, Durant said. While Paul Thomas couldnt succeed in his quest of becoming a PGA Tour professional, he watched his grandson Justin Thomas accomplish every one of it. Copyright 2021 WDRB Media. Paul Thomas, who was a longtime head golf professional, would have been proud at how his grandson overcame a start in which he was outside the cutline after the first 27 holes and recovered to card a 64-68 on the weekend on the way to a 14-under 274 for the tournament, one shot better than ageless wonder Lee Westwood. He finished with a birdie at the 18th that kept him in the top five. Youd enter one tournament from the last one.. Justin chose to play the final round of the Phoenix Open but his usual determination and desire may have been reserved. On Monday, Justin Thomas posted on Instagram: Heaven got a good one yesterday. He held the post for more than a quarter-century while remaining one of the top players in the Central Ohio PGA. Broeck famously played and caddied in the same PGA Tour event. Nobodys voice would make me happier when I would hear it over the phone. Justin has had a strong start to the 2020-21 season on the golf course logging top-5 finishes at the Zozo Championship, Masters and Sentry Tournament of Champions but has largely made headlines for an anti-gay slur he used after a missed putt at the Tournament of Champions. Thomas was in attendance when Justin won the 2018 WCC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club, the same site in which Thomas competed in the 1960 PGA Championship. Sam Blackburn is a sports reporter for the Zanesville Times Recorder, part of the USA Today Network. His grandfather, Paul, is also a PGA pro in Zanesville, Ohio. Its Golf, Only Quieter, A Vu Breakthrough Lilia Vu Wins LPGA Thailand, Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy Break Ground On Golf Of Tomorrow, Nelly Korda Two Back Thru 36 At LPGA Thailand, Dream Lesson: Short Game Study With Tiger, Rory And J-Day. But the mood turned somber when Golf Channel interviewer Steve Sands asked Thomas about his late grandfather. Thomas remained a stalwart in his PGA section, twice winning the Central Ohio PGA Championship. Time For The Dogs To Take A Long-Awaited Vacation, Arnold Palmers The Man Who Taught Us How To Be Cool, Television Bust: LIV Ratings Were Abysmal At Best, LIV Golf On Television? He had fun, but when it came to competition he was hard on himself. Mike was influenced by his fathers devotion to that aspect of the game, and he enjoyed practicing shots that he could see go in the hole. I told her no.". That passion then reached Justin as well. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. These were the humble beginnings of a golfing genealogy that produced one of todays top players. Thomas has earned several accolades as a professional and continues to keep pushing for more. Neither of his parents played golf, but this son of an auto mechanic had heard that caddying could be a good source of extra income. All that was left was his approach shot and then the walk to the 18th green. He competed in the 1960 and 61 PGA Championships but did not have luck playing on the PGA Tour. Today, 36 years later, golf is still a great part of his life, thanks to competitive playing days and the wonderful people he has met on this fabulous journey. Zoller died in Dec. 2020. Golf Digests Dave Shedloski spoke with Paul. Its the signature of his late grandfather, Paul Thomas, the first in a generation of golf professionals. Soon after that, Woods single-car accident in Los Angeles had Thomas in tears. And, of course, he watches his grandson succeed in the family trade.
Let's think about possible futures!