Michael Jordan’s Ignorance Helps PGA Tour Star Justin Thomas Buy a Car

Justin Thomas has had quite the career. He is a two-time major champion, having won the PGA Championship in 2017 and again in 2022. But maybe the greatest experience he will ever have happened well before any of that.

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On Wednesday, Thomas joined Stephen Colbert for The Late Show. Colbert showed a photograph of Michael Jordan and a 15-year-old Thomas, asking no details be spared.

Thomas acquiesced to the request.

“Michael Jordan used to always come to the Kentucky Derby,” Thomas said. “I grew up in Louisville, Kentucky. He [Jordan] wanted to play golf while he was in town. He had a friend… who played with my dad.”

“So, he played my dad’s course. I would be lucky enough to be out there and see him play.”

Of course, everyone knows that Jordan is a huge proponent of golf. He also built quite the reputation for gambling while on the course.

That is where this story got truly interesting.

Colbert asked the next, very logical question if there were any wagers.

“I would be the caddie for the group. The first couple of years, I’d help him out.

“The last year they came out, he [Jordan] always called me little man, he said ‘hey, little man, go get your clubs. You are going to play the last seven holes with us.’”

Keep in mind, this is 2008. MJ has long since retired from the NBA and spends a lot of his time on the golf course.

Jordan was obviously aware Thomas could play the game, but had no clue just how well.

Justin Thomas reacts to his shot from a bunker. Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images

“He knew that I played golf, but he didn’t know I was, uh, decent,” Thomas said with a grin. “No one else had any idea. So he [Jordan] was like, ‘I’ll take little man for whoever wants us.”

“Everyone is looking at this kid who is 111 pounds,” he said as the audience chuckled.

Suffice it to say, golfers were frothing at the mouth at the chance to square off for money against Michael Jordan and some random teenager.

Except, he was no random teenager.

“I made four birdies in seven holes which helped pay for my first car,” Thomas said laughing.

Had Jordan or anyone else been aware of just how good Thomas was, maybe there is no bet to begin with.

Less than a year after this encounter, the two-time PGA Champion became the third youngest ever to make the cut at a PGA Tour event, the Wyndham Championship.

He’ll set his sights on Augusta National next, in hopes of winning his first Masters Tournament.

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