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Justin Thomas Parts Ways with Caddie Jim “Bones” Mackay
In a surprising turn of events just prior to the highly anticipated Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Justin Thomas made the announcement on Wednesday that he is parting ways with his esteemed caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, widely recognized as one of the top caddies in the golfing world.
The timing of the decision raises questions about who will be accompanying Thomas on the course at the upcoming major championship, scheduled to take place from April 11-14 at Augusta National Golf Club.
Thomas took to social media to express his sentiments regarding the split, stating, “While incredibly difficult for me to say, Bones and I have parted ways. I’m going to be forever thankful for him joining me on the bag in 2021. The things we’ve been able to accomplish together — the PGA Championship in 2022, the Presidents Cup, the Ryder Cups were all unforgettable experiences. His wisdom on and off the course has been a blessing during a tough stretch of my career and he was there every step of the way. I know there are great things coming for both of us down the road. I wish him the best of luck and will always count him and his family amongst my friends.”
Mackay, who served as a commentator for NBC Sports during periods when Thomas was not competing, notably contributed to Phil Mickelson’s success by aiding him in claiming five out of his six major championships during their collaboration spanning from 1992 to 2017.
The partnership between Mackay and Thomas began when Mackay filled in for Thomas’ regular caddie, Jimmy Johnson, who was indisposed during the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in July 2020. Subsequently, Thomas opted to enlist Mackay on a full-time basis in September 2021.
Mackay played a pivotal role in guiding Thomas to his second major victory at the 2022 PGA Championship hosted at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma. However, Thomas has faced challenges over the last couple of seasons, evident in his absence from the 2023 FedEx Cup playoffs and his contentious inclusion as a captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup held in Rome.
Despite encountering setbacks in certain tournament showings, Thomas exhibited signs of improvement this year with three consecutive top-12 finishes preceding his failure to make the cut at the Genesis Invitational and Players Championship, two prominent events on the golfing calendar. Noteworthy, his statistical performance illustrates dominance in strokes gained: approach (ranking fifth at .795) but indicates deficiency in putting (ranking 169th at -.674).
Conclusion
The decision by Justin Thomas to part ways with his caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay, just before a major golf tournament like the Masters introduces an element of uncertainty into Thomas’ upcoming performance. It remains to be seen who will fill the void on Thomas’ bag and how this change will impact his gameplay moving forward. The partnership between Thomas and Mackay, marked by both triumphs and challenges, concludes with the hope for new opportunities and success for both individuals as they embark on separate paths.
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