Justin Thomas is currently lying low after undergoing back surgery following his latest season on the PGA Tour.
Thomas isn’t sure when he will return to golf after the surgery, which forced him out of the latest edition of the Skins Game.
He was, however, able to take on the Ryder Cup at the end of September, when Europe shocked the USA at Bethpage Black.
Two-time major champion Thomas was among the American players left frustrated as Europe stormed to a commanding lead after two days, before going on to narrowly win the event.
What Justin Thomas has said to Bryson DeChambeau since the Ryder Cup
Thomas helped the hosts in their late charge as he won his Sunday singles meeting with Tommy Fleetwood, but he had conceded the first point of the event on Friday.
Chosen by captain Keegan Bradley in the morning foursomes with Bryson DeChambeau, the pair lost to Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton.
He said of the pairing on the No Laying Up – Golf Podcast: “Keegan got eight of us together in Memphis and had dinner, we were just shooting the s— and just talking and Bryson was flying in for it.
“But there was some bad storms where he was not able to get in, but reached out and said I missed you at dinner.
“I was just thinking about it on the drive home and I knew he played the 25x. I was going through it and thinking I feel like we would be an unbelievable team, I really do.
“I texted him to be like just to put on your radar, or you have any interest and talk to Keegan, if you have any interest or if it’s something that has come to your mind at all, let it go.
“We texted a good bit back and forth and we felt like why wouldn’t it? It sounds incredible. He is going to hit 340 down the fairway, I am going to hit in inside 10 feet and he is going to make the putt.
“He plays the 25x, which is something which is close enough to my ball that he doesn’t even have to mess with him. I would use his, completely fine with that, and that’s one less variable to deal with.
“It’s also like he’s such a good player, it’s a shame to have him not play. You can say what you want about Bryson but he is one of the best players in the world and having him on the golf course, especially in the Ryder Cup with how he is now, was a huge thing. We were both in to it.
“We were told and fully understood that if we won and kept winning, we were going to keep going. I played with Cam [Young] that Friday afternoon and that’s where we got done, I talked to Keegan and he was like what are you thinking for tomorrow, we could send you and Bryson out?
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“I was like dude, Cam Young cannot not be playing. He is playing better than anybody on this team. I played very averagely this morning and Bryson is playing well.
“I was like it’s either Bryson or I, but Cam Young is in that match. He can’t not play. It was so impressive and so freaking cool to watch him ball out out there.
“They played a similar ball to where that was a perfect match, and it was like dude send them. Whatever results in us getting a point and is a better opportunity.
“I have always said if I play one match or five, whatever is best for the team, I am good with and that’s what happened.
“We have talked about it a couple of times since Bryson and I and I have said that I would love that match back over. Because I felt like neither of us could make a putt again, after he made a putt on one.
“I hit a couple of shots which I just needed to hit a little bit better and sharper. It was like we made the birdie on 14 and we just could never get momentum. I hated that.
“Because I felt like we were and we are such a good team. But I wish I had the sense to play a little bit better but maybe set us up for success a bit more.”
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Justin Thomas looks back on ‘insane’ Ryder Cup Friday morning
There was huge support for the Americans as Thomas and DeChambeau arrived on the first tee, with the LIV Golf star causing quite a stir in particular.
But the duo fell just short as they lost 4&3 to Rahm and Hatton, who represented the only other LIV players at the event aside from DeChambeau.
Looking back on the day in general, Thomas said: “That morning was insane. I think all four of their teams were at least four or five under in alternate shot. We didn’t play well, but to lose 4&3 and we were -1. We just got beat.”
It was a nightmare start for Bradley and his team, with Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay claiming their only point as they ended the session 3-1 down.
Justin Thomas shares what he ‘hated’ about Bethpage Black at the Ryder Cup
The situation improved slightly after the afternoon four-ball session, in which Thomas and Young beat Ludvig Aberg and Rasmus Hojgaard.
But the hosts still struggled in general, ending the first day of the 2025 Ryder Cup trailing 5.5-2.5 in New York.
Adding further insight, Thomas continued: “Bryson and I were better [off of the stats] on how we were with him going off odds and me going off evens.
“But I hated the sixth tee shot. I hate how it looks. I did not love four, even like two, but six I hated. One day we went out in a practice round and I was like I don’t know my parameters. I don’t know what club I can hit.
“I was like I need two captains and I am hitting 12 balls off this tee. I am going to hit some way left and some way right because I hate the look at these tee shots and I don’t feel like I have any room for a fade, to get down there with the driver and so on and so forth.
“So I did that and it was very helpful and I hit good tee shots all week. But that is something that is very hard for any stat person to know and they don’t understand the importance of.”
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Day two did not go any better for the home side, with Luke Donald guiding Europe to a healthy 11.5-4.5 lead.
And while it ended 15-13 in favor of the visitors, it was a hugely damaging and disappointing week for Bradley and the American players in front of their own fans.
Schauffele and Young impressed most for the USA with three points each, with Thomas and DeChambeau ending their weeks with two points and 1.5 points respectively.
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