Justin Thomas's Comments About Winning a Ryder Cup Should Excite Golf Fans

Justin Thomas is more well-known by the public at this point in his career for being Jordan Spieth’s friend than he is his golf accomplishments. Thomas, who is 22-years-old and in his second year on the PGA Tour, collected his first win this season at the CIMB Classic, but during an interview with Mark Rolfing on Tuesday at the Hyundai Tournament of Champions, Thomas made a comment that left many, including Golf Channels’ Chris DiMarco taken aback.

"Rolfing: “This year, would you rather win a major, or be a part of a winning Ryder Cup team?” Thomas: “Winning Ryder Cup team, hands down.”"

WOW! A young guy on the PGA Tour choosing a Ryder Cup team win on U.S. soil – the 2016 Ryder Cup is being played at Hazeltine in Minnesota – over claiming an individual major championship? There’s no way he actually means what he said right?

Or is there?

Maybe Thomas’s answer was part of a PR ploy, but maybe, because his dad works for the PGA and he’s been to three Ryder Cups as a spectator, he knows the passion players share for the event, the drama that surrounds it, and that it is by far, one of if not the, biggest event in golf. Thomas will also need to have a pretty good year on Tour to make the team, so brushing off his comment now would be a disservice to the young golfer who has already had a great start to his season.

He also answered that he’d prefer a Ryder Cup win over a major THIS YEAR. Obviously, with no Ryder Cup next year, his answer would likely change and although the Presidents Cup is great, it doesn’t have the history that the Ryder Cup has and therefore isn’t as big of a deal…yet. Thomas also has a long career ahead of him, and many, including myself, believe that he will join his buddy Spieth and claim a major tournament win.

The U.S. team has won two Ryder Cups in the last 10 events, seeing Thomas’s comment that he’d prefer a win there over a major tournament should be exciting news for golf fans.