Justin Thomas thinks Tiger Woods will have ‘a great year’

Justin Thomas is coming off a life-changing season that saw him win five times and claim the FedExCup. Despite all that he acheived in 2016-17, there’s still one dream he’s waiting to come true. “It’s been a dream of mine since I was a kid to be coming down the stretch with Tiger Woods, and hopefully it happens and hopefully I can come out on the other side, but regardless, I think this will be a great year for him,â€� Thomas said Monday in a teleconference promoting his title defense at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. Woods has been in the field for just 10 of Thomas’ 96 career TOUR starts. Thomas has never played in an event won by Woods, but one of his earliest memories is from one of Woods’ most dramatic victories. He was 7 years old when he watched from the Valhalla clubhouse as Woods defeated a pesky Bob May in a playoff to win the 2000 PGA Championship. It was Woods’ third consecutive major victory en route to the Tiger Slam. In recent years, Woods and Thomas have a developed a friendship in south Florida, playing casual rounds and dining at The Woods Jupiter. Thomas’ family ate with Woods the day after Thomas won the PGA Championship at Quail Hollow. The recent Hero World Challenge was the first time the two played alongside each other in a competitive round. Thomas, who said before the tournament that he was “looking forward to trying to kick his ass,â€� tied Woods when they were paired in the first and fourth rounds at Albany. A rusty Thomas finished 11th in the Hero’s 18-man field, one stroke behind Woods. Woods shot 69-68-75-68 to finish 10 shots behind winner Rickie Fowler. “I’ve never seen him happier with life, with everything,â€� Thomas said. “I still am and always will be a huge Tiger Woods fan. It was really cool to see him having that much fun and grinding it out and playing well.â€� Thomas can be counted among those who are optimistic about Woods’ chances of returning to the winners’ circle for the first time since 2013. Woods has not announced his 2018 schedule, but he appeared healthy in the Bahamas and seemed likely to compete soon after the TOUR resumes in January. Woods has played in just one PGA TOUR event since August 2015. “If he stays healthy, I really do think he’ll have a great year,â€� Thomas said. “We’re just going to have to wait and find out.â€� 

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