Justin Thomas dismisses criticism of Ryder Cup inclusion

The only thing that matters for Thomas, he told reporters on Tuesday, is that US team captain Zach Johnson and the other American players will compete with the European team starting Friday at Marco Simone Golf & Country Club wants him there.

“After I was selected from the team, it doesn’t matter what it is, especially when it comes to people and things online, everyone has an opinion and theirs is right and everyone’s wrong, at least that’s how it usually seems.” Thomas. “So for that exact reason, I stay away from social media and stay away from things online because I know nothing good will come from it.”

Thomas missed the cut in six of his 21 starts on the PGA Tour this season and failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs for the first time in his career. The two-time PGA Championship winner dropped to 24th in the Official World Golf Ranking. He had rounds in the 80s at the US Open and Open Championship.

Thomas finished 15th in the US Ryder Cup points standings and needs one of six captains in Johnson’s picks to make the team for the third straight time.

Thomas’ recent form doesn’t seem as important to Johnson as his good Ryder Cup history. Thomas has a 6-2-1 record in two previous appearances. He won four of five possible points in Europe’s 17½-10½ victory at Le Golf National outside Paris in 2018, including beating Rory McIlroy in singles. In the US team’s 19-9 loss in Europe at Whistling Straits in Wisconsin in 2021, Thomas scored 2½ of four points.

Johnson said he relied on the six automatic qualifiers for the team — Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, Patrick Cantlay, Max Homa and Xander Schauffele — for input while deciding on his six captaincy choices.

During a conversation before the selections were announced, Thomas said he told Johnson: “Look, obviously, of course, I want to be on the team. the team. But at the end of the day, if six guys in that room don’t think I’m the best for the team, then I shouldn’t go.”

“That’s what I thought the whole time, and I’m glad they did and had faith in me,” Thomas said. “And now that I’m here, we all hold the same weight as one. We’re all one, and it’s just our job to go out there and try to win points.”

Thomas played better in his most recent tour start, finishing fifth at the Fortinet Championship in Napa, California, on Sept. Schauffele said Thomas “smoked me” in one game and they tied the other.

“He didn’t want to lose,” Schauffele said. “He’s said it before, I’ve heard him say it, he gets up for it. You see more emotion from him, raw emotion from him than you usually do in an individual tournament or on the PGA Tour.”

Jordan Spieth, who will likely play Thomas in foursomes (alternate shot) and four-ball (best-ball) matches this week, called his best friend the “backbone” of the US team. Spieth said Thomas likes playing in front of crowds, especially outside the US

“It creates maybe a little extra level of focus for him,” Spieth said. “I was next to him for Ryder Cups, and he played better golf than the guys across from him.”

Cantlay called Thomas “the best Ryder Cup player of the last decade.”

“Yeah, he’s not afraid of the moment he’s in, and he loves the game,” Cantlay said. “His record speaks for itself. I think anytime there’s an opportunity to have that guy on your team, you want him.”

Above all, Thomas said he is in a better place mentally and believes he can win golf tournaments. He didn’t feel quite like that this summer.

“I’m just in a good headspace, and for me, that’s the most important thing,” Thomas said. “I’ve said this a few times in the media. I’ve won golf tournaments without my best stuff, and I’m proud of that and I’ve been proud of that before. I feel like I can win golf tournaments this past year with the state I’m in mentally.”