Just a few days before he was scheduled to head to Augusta National for the Masters, Justin Thomas split ways with his coach, Jim “Bones” Mackay, and the move caused some controversy.
Jim “Bones” Mackay, Justin Thomas’ coach, has cautioned that splitting up with him the night before the Masters could come back to haunt him.
Remarkable swing coach Butch Harman acknowledged that he was taken aback to learn that Thomas and Mackay had split up after three years of dating. In the heyday of his career, Mackay had won the 2022 PGA Championship and the 2021 Ryder Cup while riding on Thomas’ bag.
Thomas has had a difficult start to the year, failing to make the cut at both The Players Championship and the Genesis Invitational. And it appears that the 30-year-old decided it was time for a change after tying for 64th place at the Valspar Championship.
Just a few days prior to his scheduled trip to Georgia, on Wednesday, April 3, Thomas made the announcement on social media that he and Mackay had broken up after three years. Many were taken aback by the announcement because of the timing and the lack of any indication that a split was imminent.
In an interview with Mirror Sport, Harmon expressed shock at the news and gave his reasoning for thinking that entering a major with a fresh caddy is never a good idea. “That surprised me greatly. As one of the best caddies in the game, Bones has caddied for JT for a number of years. He has two major championship victories under his belt and has spent 25 years with Phil Mickelson.
“We’ll have to wait until one of them decides to tell us why it happened, as I spoke with Bones via text last night. He didn’t really elaborate on what happened or why it happened.
“This is a very unusual occurrence; if there was going to be a split, you’d think it would be the week after. I was very surprised that it would occur the week before the first major of the year. To be honest, it’s kind of unheard of to enter a major championship with a brand-new caddy. Like most of us, I was just shocked that it actually happened.”
While expressing gratitude for all of Mackay’s efforts, Thomas’s statement hinted that there had not been a personal falling out between them.
“Bones and I have parted ways, though it is extremely difficult for me to say,” he wrote. I will always be appreciative that he came along on the bag in 2021. The Presidents Cup, the Ryder Cups, and the PGA Championship in 2022 were all incredible experiences that we have achieved together.
“He was there for me at every turn, and his guidance both on and off the course has been a blessing during a challenging time in my career.
“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.”
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