Justin Thomas Shoots Down Masters Hype & Swears Augusta ‘Not Even Close’ to Matching Upcoming Golf Event’s Buzz

Justin Thomas was 11 years old when his family drove him from Kentucky to Augusta for the first time. Thomas once described that experience, saying, “driving our car through the gates at Augusta National was like driving through the gates of heaven.” For young JT Augusta wasn’t just a golf course; it was hallowed ground, a place that etched itself into the blueprint of his ambitions. Years later, Thomas would turn up at the course again, this time as a pro in 2016m fulfilling a long-held dream. Since he is yet to earn the famed Green Jacket from Augusta, Masters remains the holy grail for Thomas. Which is why it was surprising when Thomas recently downplayed the Masters buzz.

The countdown to Augusta this year is nearly over—just one week separates us from the first tee shots of the 2025 Masters, and the hype is reaching a fever pitch. The azaleas are ready to bloom, Amen Corner waits in silence, and patrons across the globe are preparing to soak in the drama of one of golf’s most hallowed traditions. But guess what? For Justin Thomas, the two-time major winner who has been on this stage for most of the last decade, the Masters isn’t at the top of his hype list. Yep, you heard that right. Not even close. A hot take, maybe!

In an appearance on the Throwbacks podcast on April 3, JT got candid about the nerves, the hype, and which event truly gets his adrenaline surging—and spoiler alert, it’s not Augusta. He talked about how the Ryder Cup will always be a challenge when it comes to handling nerves, saying his first Ryder Cup “in France was the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life.” Host Matt then asked, “Are you more nervous for that than, like, the Masters? The first tee off at the Masters?”

Thomas replied. “It’s not even close. The Ryder Cup is another level. I am getting goosebumps just talking about it. It’s cool. The emotion and getting excited, we don’t get to do that at tournaments without looking like an a*****. You don’t even realise it. It just comes out because it means so much and you are playing for so much more.” You could hear it in his voice. For all the pageantry of the Masters—green jackets, roars from the trees, history dripping from every blade of fairway grass—nothing compares, in JT’s mind, to the all-out, high-octane, national-pride-fueled chaos of the Ryder Cup. Thomas, of course, has some fond memories of the competition.

During the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in France, Justin Thomas, playing in his first tournament, faced Rory McIlroy in the opening singles match on Sunday. Thomas secured a 1-up victory over McIlroy, with the match concluding dramatically on the 18th hole when McIlroy’s approach shot found the water, leading to Thomas clinching the point for Team USA. He went 4–1–0 but couldn’t prevent Team Europe from winning. During the podcast, Thomas further explained what makes the Ryder Cup special to him.

“You know, these guys that you don’t really want to play well all year? You actually get to root for. Like, I want Scottie (Scheffler) to get it close, and, like, Patrick [Reed] to make every putt, and Xander [Schauffele] to make it. So its you know, it’s nice to be on these guys’ team for a week, because, you know, they’re tough to beat once we’re playing every week.”  Considering golf as more of an individual sport, events like the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup make you set aside any personal rivalries and work together towards the bigger picture. As JT stated, you start to root for even the biggest of your rivals for a few days.