Justin Thomas points to rise of two PGA Tour rivals as source of inspiration
Former World Number One Justin Thomas has found inspiration from Eric Cole and Adam Schenk after their consistent seasons earned them a spot in the four majors next year,
The PGA Tour will be split in two next season, with the top ranked players competing in £15 million signature events while the others will be playing for roughly £6.7m in others. FedEx Cup points are now crucial for improving a golfers ranking, and Thomas didn't enjoy the best year in 2023.
Due to his stock, it's likely that Thomas will receive sponsor exemptions for the big events if he doesn't earn a path there himself. But the 30-year-old thinks that both Cole and Schenk should be role models to aspiring golfers, as they were the only players to climb from outside of the top 150, and into the top 50 ranked players on the tour.
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Rather than complain about the benefits that top golfers receive, Thomas thinks that the rise of both Cole and Schenk should be an example of how anything is possible. Both golfers didn't win a tournament in 2023, but due to consistently performing well they soared up the rankings and now have a huge opportunity next season.
Cole has played the long game, spending 10 years on the minor tours and jumping from World No. 384 to No. 41. Schenk has also improved over the years, qualifying for the Tour Championship and all majors.
"I think it’s the easy thing to do, honestly, to sit there and say: ‘Why me? Why is this happening to me? Why are they getting this?’" Thomas said. "If you would have put us (Thomas, Cole, and Schenk) side by side at the beginning of the year and said, ‘Who is going to do what?’ ... you know what I’m saying?
Schenk has earned his spot in the Tour Championship
Eric Cole has spent a decade in the mini tours and has now reached the top 50 "But that’s the way I think so many people look at it. It’s like, ‘Well, they are going to play in all these events.’ Or you can look at it like Adam Schenk did and say, ‘I’m going to play my way into those events.’ Eric Cole, ‘I’m going to play my way into those events.’
"Golf is a funky game. Doesn’t matter how good of a player, any accomplishments you’ve had. You can have an off year and miss the playoffs just like I did. Everybody has got to work hard and you have to earn it."
Thomas is still ranked No. 26 in the world, and won the PGA Championship back in 2022. It was the second time he'd won the major after enjoying his first success in 2017, but his next best finish in another major came in 2020 when he finished fourth in The Masters.
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