GOLF
FROM LAUGHTER TO REGRET: Justin Thomas Opens Up About Mocking Scottie Scheffler’s Hurt Swing
American professional golfer Justin Thomas is in Japan to compete in the PGA Tour’s lone Asian event, the Zozo Championship. In what will be the sixth edition of the tournament, the Zozo Championship will be held at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club from October 24th to 27th.
Before the tournament, Thomas was part of a media interaction at the Accordia Golf Narashino Country Club. During this interaction, Thomas spoke about a time he made fun of Scottie Scheffler’s follow-through at an event in which the World No. 1 golfer was dealing with a neck injury.
Justin Thomas said:
“[His neck injury] didn’t really come up until our third hole on Friday,” Thomas recalls. “I just remember he hit this tee shot, and it was like the most absurd follow-through I’ve ever seen, and I was audibly laughing because I thought it was just one of his patented follow-throughs only to find out it was his neck and I actually felt pretty bad.”
Scottie Scheffler
The event Justin Thomas is speaking about is The Players Championship 2024. At the tournament, Thomas was grouped with Scheffler and Rickie Fowler. While Scheffler’s follow-through might have drawn a burst of laughter from Thomas, it’s important to note that the former ended up winning The Players Championship.
Not only did Scottie Scheffler win the tournament with an injured neck, but by winning it, he also became the first golfer in the tournament’s 50-year history to defend the title, as Scheffler was also the winner of The Players Championship in 2023.
What time will Justin Thomas tee off in Round 1 of the 2024 Zozo Championship?
The 2024 Zozo Championship will feature 78 golfers including defending champion Collin Morikawa and 2024 Open Championship winner Xander Schauffele. At the event, Justin Thomas will be paired with Hideki Matsuyama and Si Woo Kim. The trio will tee off at 8:29 am.