“I Never Looked at It That Way”: Justin Thomas' Father Opens Up About His Golf Journey

Feb 22, 2026, 5:57 PM CUT

Mike Thomas has been teaching Justin Thomas how to swing since he was a kid. Even today, he is his only swing coach. Yet, Thomas senior never put the burden of expectation on his son.

Thomas addressed that perception when he appeared on the Golf IQ podcast, speaking about the expectations surrounding his son/

"Everybody around me projected out what Justin was going to accomplish, as in he was going to play college golf and he was going to play on the tour. I never looked at it that way," he explained.

Thomas' father has served as head golf professional at Harmony Landing Country Club in Goshen, Kentucky, since 1990. He was named Kentucky PGA Golf Professional of the Year in 1997 and won eight section events.

He is also the son of Paul Thomas, who competed in the 1962 U.S. Open. Given his background and position in the game, many assumed Justin Thomas' turning professional in 2013 was part of a defined path shaped from the start.

Yet, Mike Thomas said he did not focus on what Justin would become in golf. What mattered to him was that his son found something he cared about.

Even if Justin chose to leave golf and pursue investing or music, he would support that decision. He added that most parents want their children to find something they are committed to.

In 2020, the father-son partnership reached a milestone moment on the PGA Tour stage.

PNC Championship: Mike and Justin Thomas Claim Title in Tournament Debut

With 16 PGA Tour wins, Justin Thomas has also shared a title with his father on the same stage.

In their first appearance at the 2020 PNC Championship, Mike and Justin Thomas won at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Florida. They shot a final-round 57 to post a 36-hole total of 25-under 119 and secured a one-shot win.

They began the final round four shots behind but opened with seven straight birdies and closed without a bogey. The decisive moment came on the 18th hole, where Mike Thomas made a 5-foot birdie putt to seal the result.

Justin’s mother, Jani Thomas, carried the bag for Mike during the event, making it a complete family win.

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Sagnik Bagchi