On the surface, it may look like Justin Thomas is always knocking on the door of victory. But when you take a closer look, it’s been nearly three years since he last got the job done. No wins, no trophies—just a lot of close calls. Lately, he’s been playing well, though—his recent performance at the Genesis Invitational was proof of that. He shot a solid 69, 6-under par in Round 4 to secure a T9 finish, showing that his game is still in great shape. After all, he looks forward to having a Scheffler-like season. If the show at Torrey Pines wasn’t enough, his clutch performance during a TGL match between Atlanta and Los Angeles turned heads.

On the 15th hole, JT holed out to win the final hole and send things into overtime, ultimately helping Atlanta secure the win. Impressive, right? But here’s what’s even more impressive—he’s been doing all of this while running on minimal sleep. Yes, you read that right. Ever since his daughter, Molly, arrived in November 2024, Thomas has been juggling professional golf with his new role as a dad. And like any new parent, sleep has become a luxury.

Recently, in an interview, JT was asked, “Does being a new dad and that kind of sleep deprivation prepare you for moments like this, to rise to the challenge under no sleep?“ His response? Honest and relatable. “No, being a dad is way more challenging than anything I had to do out there. I love these guys to death, but they’re not life or death like the situation I have going on at home where I’m trying to take care of an infant.“ He continued, “The sleep deprivation was real for all of us, so we were happy to feed off of the crowd and use the adrenaline to get us through.“

The golfers had a tough week. They just ended play at Torrey Pines and then headed to the SoFi arena for the TGL match. Feeding off the fans’s energy was indeed a necessity. Now, if JT’s confession is not peak new-dad energy, what is? And it’s not the first time JT has traded late nights for early bedtimes.

JT made his season debut at The Sentry, and even then, his new reality was on full display. He shared an update with fans on X, writing, “It’s 6:47 local time here in Hawaii. And I’m in bed. That is all. Happy New Year to all!” If calling it a night before 7 p.m. in Hawaii doesn’t scream dad life, nothing does.

Since welcoming Molly, Thomas’s life has been filled with sleepless nights, diaper duty, and now, a delicate balancing act between his PGA Tour career and his responsibilities at home. Molly was also there at Torrey Pines to support her father. Even her uncle Tiger Woods met her for the first time.

Still, despite the exhaustion, Thomas‘s game is looking sharp. And if he’s pulling off clutch performances on limited sleep, imagine what he might do once he finally gets a full night’s rest.

How does fatherhood translate into motivation for Justin Thomas?

Fatherhood has sure given JT a fresh outlook on both life and golf. Sure, he’s dealing with sleepless nights, but the patience and mental toughness needed to care for his daughter, Molly Grace, could be exactly what he needs to finally break that winless streak. 

He recently shared how much he’s looking forward to those iconic moments we’ve all seen on TV, where players win and get to hug their families, especially their little ones after winning. “I think you watch it all the, or at least growing up all the time on TV of guys winning tournaments and greeting their family and their little ones on 18 Green. And, you know, I’m pretty excited for that opportunity one day and hopefully sooner rather than later,” he said.

But, of course, life with a newborn is all about routine for now. “As it is eight weeks old, you’re not really getting a whole lot. They’re pretty much creatures of habit of eating, sleeping, and pooping. That’s pretty much all they do. So, you know, getting some smiles and getting to hang out with them has been good fun.” he said.

For Thomas, winning isn’t just a goal anymore—it’s got a whole new meaning. Sure, those sleepless nights aren’t exactly fun, but with a motivation like this, it’s all worth it.