The TOUR Championship finale is on the horizon! Justin Thomas’ surprise top-30 finish at the BMW Championship, confirmed mid-flight, has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion. However, it’s not his impressive golf game that’s grabbing attention now. But a candid comment he made about pros having handicaps at their home clubs has ignited a fiery debate. Thomas’ unexpected opinion has sparked a strong reaction from fans on social media. But what did he say that has everyone talking?

NUCLR GOLF shared a post that revealed Thomas’ surprising take. It read, “⛳️🤣🫴 Justin Thomas on pros giving other pros strokes during at home matches: ‘I’d be pretty pissed if Scottie & I played a practice round & he’s like, do you want a stroke on this nine?’ ☠️ @SchefflerFans @JTLegion_” When asked if it’s odd for a pro to give another pro stroke, even in a home match, Thomas responded that he’d be offended if Scottie Scheffler offered him a stroke.

Thomas believes pros should compete on an even playing field, even in friendly games, and that accepting a handicap would be a sign of weakness. He said, “It would be like, what do I think of myself, and what does he think of me? Honestly, it would be a pretty good intimidation factor.” His statement reveals the competitive mindset he holds, where even casual games are seen as opportunities to assert dominance.

The former World No. 1’s comments didn’t stop there. He went on to reveal an anecdote about his casual games with friends who are mini-tour players. “I definitely have some buddies that I play with at home that are maybe mini-tours or stuff like that, people that I’m close enough with where I feel like I can say that and I’ll just — I’ll be like, do you want some strokes or what do you want and they kind of look at me, and I know right then that I’ve already won the match because that’s what I think of them, kind of thing.”

However, per the TOUR Championship ‘Starting Stroke’ format system,  players are given a head start. And Scottie Scheffler is 10 strokes ahead of Justin Thomas, who will tee off with an even par. But Thomas’s recent comments have sparked a debate about the nature of competition among pros, with some fans questioning his ability when faced with Scheffler.

How fans reacted to Justin Thomas’ comments

Justin Thomas’ candid take on handicaps among pros sparked a fiery debate, especially as the TOUR Championship finale looms. His remarks about refusing strokes, even in friendly games, have drawn mixed reactions, with many fans weighing in on his competitive mindset.

One fan remarked, “Scottie could give JT 10 strokes and still beat him by 10,” which, though cutting, brings to mind Thomas’ struggles this season. He could not grab a win this year either. It highlights a stark contrast between his current form and Scottie Scheffler’s dominance. Scheffler, starting the TOUR Championship with a 10-stroke lead, is clearly in a strong position. 

Another fan commented, “You and Spieth gonna need them if you keep going the way you are just saying.” The X user nods to the close relationship between Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth. Both of them have seen ups and downs in their careers in recent times. They have often been compared by fans, both being former World No. 1 players with similar career trajectories. It echoes moments like when Spieth and Thomas missed the cut at the 2021 Masters, a reminder that even top players can struggle and might benefit from every advantage.

One fan humorously added, “He’s gonna need 3-4,” referencing the gap in performance between him and Scheffler. This comment could be a playful nod to the fact that, while Thomas might pride himself on never needing strokes. But the reality of his current form might say otherwise. It brings to mind the 15x PGA Tour winner’s rough patch earlier this season, where a string of missed cuts had fans and analysts alike questioning his form.

Another fan suggested, “…hey if they offering take ‘em. Don’t let that pride stand in the way.” This comment highlights the fine line between pride and practicality in competitive sports. The fan’s advice to “take ‘em” if offered points to the idea that in golf, as in life, sometimes it’s wiser to accept help or a leg up rather than let ego dictate decisions. 

As the debate surrounding Justin Thomas’s comments continued to swirl, a fan chimed in with a witty remark that left many chuckling. “Yeaaaaa JT should probably take some strokes from Scottie lol,“ he quipped, poking fun at Thomas’s bold assertion that he wouldn’t need any strokes to compete with Scheffler. Earlier in the year, Thomas had failed to make the cut in the U.S. Open, leaving many to wonder if he still had what it took to compete at the highest level.