{"id":140055,"date":"2025-05-29T00:31:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T00:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/140055\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T00:31:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T00:31:08","slug":"justin-thomas-pays-tribute-to-best-friend-on-pga-tour-after-terrible-terrible-incident","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/140055\/","title":{"rendered":"Justin Thomas pays tribute to best friend on PGA Tour after ‘terrible, terrible’ incident"},"content":{"rendered":"

Justin Thomas says it’s ‘only a matter of time’ before Bud Cauley steps into the winner’s circle on the <\/strong>PGA Tour<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cauley experienced a significant setback in his career seven years ago when he was involved in a severe car accident.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The American was making his way back home after he missed the cut at the Memorial<\/a> when he was involved in the smash.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He suffered six broken ribs, a fractured left leg and a collapsed right lung.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Justin <\/p>\n

Justin Thomas<\/p>\n

Cauley thought his career was over but he fought through the adversity and has managed to get himself into the field for signature event at Muirfield Village this week.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thomas paid tribute to Cauley’s resiliency in his news conference on Wednesday ahead of the PGA Tour stop hosted by Jack Nicklaus<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I’m so excited for him,” Thomas<\/a> said of Cauley. “He’s so good and so talented.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“He’s got one of those games that can just play out here for so long and can win out here, and I think he’s showing that this year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\n

Get to know @BudCauley<\/a>:<\/p>\n

He grew up playing golf just 6 miles from TPC Sawgrass.<\/p>\n

Named 2009 SEC Freshman of the Year.<\/p>\n

Was Walker Cup teammates with Rickie Fowler.<\/p>\n

In 2011, the 21-year-old had five top-15s in 11 starts to earn TOUR status right out of college. Only six other\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/yvmo6Uyw1f<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 16, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

“And he’s just putting himself there more and more, which I think, for him, has probably been the biggest hurdle is that it has been a career full of injuries to where he hasn’t consistently been able to do that to feel comfortable, to get it done when he gets there.<\/p>\n

“He’s doing that this year, so I think it’s just a matter of time. But he’s playing great and, yeah, back to, you know, the incident here was awful.”<\/p>\n

Cauley has only missed one cut this year and has also racked up four top 10 finishes.<\/p>\n

His performance at the RBC Heritage<\/a> – which Thomas won<\/a> – ensured that he got into the field this week via the AON Next 10 standings.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thomas added: “I’m so happy he’s not just playing again, but playing well, because he’s one of my best friends in the world and it was a terrible, terrible night and week.”<\/p>\n

Justin Thomas also not a fan of long par-3s<\/p>\n

Before the Memorial began, Viktor Hovland<\/a> explained he is not a fan<\/a> of the growing trend of having long par-3s in elite professional golf.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When the U.S. Open heads to Oakmont in a few weeks’ time, competitors in the field<\/a> will have to deal with the prospect of playing the longest par-3 in the major’s history.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The 8th hole is 299 yards.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Thomas told reporters that he went to Oakmont on Tuesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I would say all of the rumours and everything are pretty on point,” Thomas said. \u00a0<\/p>\n

“Yeah, I couldn’t tell you a par-3 over 250 yards that’s good, I would say, architecturally.”<\/p>\n

Thomas said it’s not his favourite hole in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But he added: “Everyone’s going to have to play the same hole and going to have to execute the same shots, and I would love four threes on it right now if I could take it.”<\/p>\n

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