From left, Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry and Justin Thomas on Friday at St. Andrews.
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Justin Thomas nearly missed, and Shane Lowry did not. Though the jovial Irishman, as Thomas pointed out, had had this all teed up.
Let’s set the scene. A day earlier, during the first round of the Open Championship, Thomas had hit his tee shot on the 18th at St. Andrews, and according to the Open’s website, his ball went 252 yards. But Thomas described it better.
“Couldn’t decide if 3w was too much on 18 or if it was a flat 5w,” Thomas wrote on Twitter. “Seemed like a perfect 5w downwind. Cold topped it. Landed short if the burn. Had 125 in. Nice #onward.”
Which brings us to Friday and the second round and this glorious exchange.
Thomas teed off. His ball was going farther than Thursday. And one of his playing partners saw that, too.
“Most improved anyways,” Lowry said.
True.
“Shut the f*** up,” Thomas as he, Lowry, Viktor Hovland, the other player in the group, their caddies and likely you all laughed.
“Waited five hours to do that,” Thomas continued.
Sometimes you must. But the back-and-forth didn’t stop at the course. Over Twitter, golf site No Laying Up also shared the exchange, which led to another. Lowry responded with a skull and a laughing emoji. And Thomas wrote:
“Too good. I have the cover on the burn off 18 if you need it at all this week! And laughing emoji.”
All of it was also neither the first time JT has been jabbed, nor even the first time he’s been poked on the 18th this week. We happily go back to Monday, when Thomas and none other than Tiger Woods finished their practice round. The Open’s social media team captured it. To set it up, all you need to know is that Woods has won three Opens, Thomas none, and the Open was hosting a Celebration of Champions on Tuesday.
Too easy.
“See you tomorrow for the past winners event,” Woods began.
Pause.
“Oh, I forgot you’ve never won here.”
Woods laughed.
And Thomas swore. Again.
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