Rory McIlroy's Honest Take on Justin Thomas's Comeback After Long Hiatus

Feb 25, 2026, 3:00 AM CUT

Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2026 DUBAI, UAE - JANUARY 23: Rory McIlroy competes during the Hero Dubai Desert Classic 2026 at Emirates Golf Club in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on January 23, 2026. Waleed Zein / Anadolu Dubai United Arab Emirates. Editorial use only. Please get in touch for any other usage. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxTURxUSAxCANxUKxJPNxITAxFRAxAUSxESPxBELxKORxRSAxHKGxNZL Copyright: x2026xAnadoluxWaleedxZeinx

You might think that being in the same tournament, the same career path, and even practicing together would stir up tension between two competitive players.

But when it comes to Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas, that isn’t the case.

The 16-time PGA TOUR winner returned to competition on February 23, marking his first start since undergoing microdiscectomy surgery in November 2025.

As he stepped back into team action, attention also turned to how his peers viewed the comeback, especially longtime friend and competitor Rory McIlroy.

GOLF AUSTRALIAN OPEN, Northern Ireland s Rory McIlroy reacts on the fairway after playing a shot on hole 14 in round two of the Australian Open Golf tournament at the Royal Melbourne Golf Club in Melbourne, Friday, December 5, 2025. NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY MELBOURNE VICTORIA AUSTRALIA PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxAUSxNZLxPNGxFIJxVANxSOLxTGA Copyright: xJAMESxROSSx 20251205175830474051

When asked what it was like to see Thomas back out there swinging a club, the career grand slam winner said:

“Yeah, it's great. Obviously, he's been out for a little while, but it looks like his rehab has went really well. Looks like he's going to tee it up next week at Bay Hill for the first time. So yeah, great to have him back out here.”

Thomas has confirmed that he will begin his 2026 PGA Tour season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, scheduled for March 5–8 at Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

This start will be his first PGA Tour appearance since November 2025; the event at Bay Hill will mark his return to full-field tour competition following his recovery period.

It wasn’t only a welcome back message. Rory McIlroy also acknowledged Justin Thomas’ past record.

Rory McIlroy on Justin Thomas’ Return: A Decade of Excellence

Speaking about Thomas’ comeback, Rory McIlroy also acknowledged his past game, saying:

“Obviously, he has been one of the best players over the last decade. It sucks when you go through something like that and have surgery, but it looks like he has come out the other side and is pretty good. So yeah.”

Over the last more 10 years, Justin Thomas has put together a steady run on the PGA Tour. He has won 16 titles, including two majors, and has spent long stretches ranked among the top players in the world.

His breakout phase came during the 2016–17 season, when he picked up five wins and secured the FedEx Cup.

Thomas reached World No. 1 and remained inside the top 10 for years. From 2017 through 2023, he stayed there for 273 straight weeks. Then came a downturn in 2023 and 2024, when results dipped, and he slipped outside the top 10.

However, in April 2025, he found his way back by winning the RBC Heritage. That win pushed him back into the top 10 and reset his momentum.

By early 2026, Thomas had earned more than $70 million in official PGA Tour prize money.

How do you think Justin Thomas will perform at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this week?

Written by

Aditi Singh

Edited by

Oajaswini Prabhu