JT jokes about 2021 Players bounce: Not THAT lucky
Justin Thomas joins Smylie Kaufman and Kevin Kisner on Happy Hour presented by Michelob Ultra, jokingly downplaying his bounce on 18 in the 2021 Players Championship before admitting it was indeed extremely fortunate.
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Newsweek
2 hours ago
- Newsweek
Justin Thomas' Comical Goal of 'Catching Scheffler' Starts at US Open
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Back in April, Justin Thomas broke an almost 3-year winless drought at the RBC Heritage as he sank a 21-foot birdie putt to edge out Andrew Novak. That win was his first since the 2022 PGA Championship and meant more than just a trophy. It was a sigh of relief, a long-awaited return to the winner's circle after 1,064 days of questions, pressure, and self-doubt. But since that $3.6 million win, his game has taken a downturn. Thomas missed the cut at the PGA Championship, posting rounds of 73 and 72 to finish +3. At the Memorial Tournament, he opened with a disastrous 8-over 80, fought back with a 69 and 71, and battled to settle for T31 at +5. OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 09: Justin Thomas of the United States speaks to the media during a practice round prior to the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 09, 2025 in Oakmont,... OAKMONT, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 09: Justin Thomas of the United States speaks to the media during a practice round prior to the 125th U.S. OPEN at Oakmont Country Club on June 09, 2025 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Photo by) More Getty Images Now, with the 2025 U.S. Open at Oakmont upon us, one of the toughest courses that's freaking out professionals, Thomas is eyeing his new goal. The funny part, it's not just the leaderboard, but something seemingly impossible. Last week, a thought popped into Thomas's head. It was bold, maybe even laughable. But he said it anyway: "Can I catch him this year?" He was talking about Scottie Scheffler, the World No. 1 and the man who's turned the PGA Tour's event courses into his playground. Thomas sits at No. 5 in the OWGR, nearly 500 points behind Scheffler. Even Rory McIlroy, ranked No. 2, is 239 points back. "Maybe Scottie doesn't play or something," Thomas joked during the pre-tournament conference at Oakmont. "You can't really catch that if he keeps doing what he's doing." Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning the 2025 PGA Championship during the final round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 18, 2025 in... Scottie Scheffler of the United States celebrates on the 18th green after winning the 2025 PGA Championship during the final round of the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Country Club on May 18, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by) More/Scheffler has been dominating the golf world for the last four seasons. He has six top-5 finishes since March itself. And if we talk about his worst result in the last two months, it was a tie for 8th at the RBC Heritage, won by Thomas. "It's effortless. Every single aspect of his game is unbelievable," Thomas said. "I think his mental game is better than anybody out here. To be able to play with those expectations and stay present as often as he has to me is maybe more impressive than even the golf he's playing." Thomas knows his challenge isn't just physical but mental. He admitted that in recent tournaments, he has been solid early before pressing too hard on the weekend. "I've allowed myself to be in contention during the first two rounds before trying to force it." Despite six top-10 finishes this year, inconsistency has haunted Thomas. He missed the cut at the second major of this season. His T36 finish at the Masters was underwhelming. Yet, he has hope! Mainly because he has done it before. Justin held the No. 1 position twice in his career, in 2018 and 2020. And he feels he can do it again. "It's still on the forefront of my mind," Thomas said. "I obviously can't do anything about what [Scheffler] is doing, and he doesn't seem to be showing any signs of slowing down or wanting to. Just try to win some tournaments, and hopefully get close sooner rather than later." That chase begins at Oakmont Country Club, where a win would go a long way toward that goal. More Golf: U.S. Open: 3 Biggest Storylines to Watch For at Oakmont
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
2025 U.S. Open purse, payouts: How much is up for grabs this week at Oakmont Country Club?
The third major championship is here, and the USGA is matching last year's record purse in Pennsylvania. The USGA announced on Wednesday that it is offering a $21.5 million purse at the U.S. Open this week. While that's not the largest offered this season on the PGA Tour, it matched the record that the tournament set last year among the four major championships. Advertisement The $21.5 million purse will also send the winner home from Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh with a $4.3 million check. "We didn't raise our purse this year," USGA CEO Mike Whan said on Wednesday. "When I started at the USGA just four years ago, our purse was $12.5 million, so I feel comfortable that we've been a leader in moving fast and bigger ... We understand the competitive set. We know that this probably isn't really about the money for the person who puts it there, but at the same time, we want the money to be commensurate with the achievement." By comparison, the PGA Tour's signature events carry purses of at least $20 million. The Players Championship leads the way with a $25 million purse, which is larger than the four major championships. The Masters offered a $21 million purse earlier this spring, which sent Rory McIlroy home with a $4.2 million check for his win, and Scottie Scheffler took home $3.42 million for his PGA Championship victory. Scheffler is the betting favorite this week, and it's easy to understand why. The top-ranked golfer in the world has won three of his last four starts without any issue whatsoever. He's finished inside the top-5 in two of his last three U.S. Open starts, too. Bryson DeChambeau isn't far behind, and McIlroy is up there, too — though he's coming off a missed cut at the RBC Canadian Open last week. Here's how much is up for grabs this week at Oakmont Country Club. Advertisement 2025 U.S. Open payouts 1. $4.3 million 2. $2.322 million 3. $1.445 million 4. $1.013 million 5. $843,765 6. $748,154 7. $674,491 8. $604,086 9. $546,720 10. $502,174 11. $458,280 12. $423,729 13. $394,829 14. $364,829 15. $338,332 16. $316,602 17. $299,218 18. $281,834 19. $264,450 20. $247,067 21. $232,073 22. $217,080 23. $202,521 24. $189,048 25. $177,314 26. $167,319 27. $159,713 28. $152,977 29. $146,458 30. $139,939 31. $133,420 32. $126,901 33. $120,382 34. $114,515 35. $109,735 36. $104,954 37. $100,391 38. $96,045 39. $91,699 40. $87,353 41. $83,007 42. $78,661 43. $74,315 44. $69,969 45. $65,623 46. $61,712 47. $57,801 48. $54,107 49. $51,934 50. $49,761 51. $48,457 52. $47,370 53. $46,501 54. $46,067 55. $45,632 56. $45,197 57. $44,763 58. $44,328 59. $43,894 60. $43,459 61. $43,024 62. $42,590 63. $42,155 64. $41,721 65. $41,286 66. $40,851 67. $40,417 68. $39,982 69. $39,548 70. $39,113 71. $38,678
Newsweek
17 hours ago
- Newsweek
2025 U.S. Open: Complete Record-Matching $21.5M Prize Purse by Place
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. While speaking on the eve of the 125th U.S. Open, United States Golf Association (USGA) CEO Mike Whan officially revealed that the event's purse will be $21.5 million, with $4.3 million going to the winner. This is the same amount allocated for the 2024 edition, tying the record for the largest purse distributed at any major championship in history. "Our purse is $21.5 million. Winner's check is $4.3 [million]. We didn't raise our purse this year," Whan said. "When I started at the USGA just four years ago, our purse was $12.5 [million], so I feel comfortable that we've been a leader in moving fast and bigger." The U.S. Open Trophy seen at Oakmont Country Club on May 4, 2016 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. The U.S. Open Trophy seen at Oakmont Country Club on May 4, 2016 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. Justin K. Aller/Getty Images As for the winner's paycheck, it ranks as the second-highest for an individual professional golf event, behind only the $4.5 million awarded to the winner of the PGA Tour's PLAYERS Championship. It's certainly come a long way since the $150 Horace Rawlins received for winning the event's foundational edition in 1895. The US Open winner's paycheck reached $1,000 for the first time in 1929, but the winner was the legendary Bobby Jones, who didn't collect the prize money because he played as an amateur. The $10,000 barrier was broken in 1959, when Billy Casper received $12,000 for his victory. Just 26 years later, the $100,000 barrier was surpassed, as Andy North received $103,000 when he won in 1985. It couldn't be anyone but Tiger Woods who was the first to receive $1 million for winning the US Open, which he did with his epic victory in 2000. US Open prize money payout This is how the 2025 US Open purse will be distributed. The amounts may vary depending on ties: 1 $4,300,000 2 $2,322,000 3 $1,445,062 4 $1,013,040 5 $843,765 6 $748,154 7 $674,491 8 $604,086 9 $546,720 10 $502,174 11 $458,280 12 $423,729 13 $394,829 14 $364,407 15 $338,332 16 $316,602 17 $299,218 18 $281,834 19 $264,450 20 $247,067 21 $232,073 22 $217,080 23 $202,521 24 $189,048 25 $177,314 26 $167,319 27 $159,713 28 $152,977 29 $146,458 30 $139,939 31 $133,420 32 $126,901 33 $120,382 34 $114,515 35 $109,735 36 $104,954 37 $100,391 38 $96,045 39 $91,699 40 $87,353 41 $83,007 42 $78,661 43 $74,315 44 $69,969 45 $65,623 46 $61,712 47 $57,801 48 $54,107 49 $51,934 50 $49,761 51 $48,457 52 $47,370 53 $46,501 54 $46,067 55 $45,632 56 $45,197 57 $44,763 58 $44,328 59 $43,894 60 $43,459 61 $43,024 62 $42,590 63 $42,155 64 $41,721 65 $41,286 66 $40,851 67 $40,417 68 $39,982 69 $39,548 70 $39,113 More Golf: Scottie Scheffler reveals Venmo payments from fans, requests for cash
