Justin Thomas was 11 years old when his family drove him from Kentucky to Augusta for the first time. Thomas once described that experience, saying, “driving our car through the gates at Augusta National was like driving through the gates of heaven.” For young JT Augusta wasn’t just a golf course; it was hallowed ground, a place that etched itself into the blueprint of his ambitions. Years later, Thomas would turn up at the course again, this time as a pro in 2016m fulfilling a long-held dream. Since he is yet to earn the famed Green Jacket from Augusta, Masters remains the holy grail for Thomas. Which is why it was surprising when Thomas recently downplayed the Masters buzz.

The countdown to Augusta this year is nearly over—just one week separates us from the first tee shots of the 2025 Masters, and the hype is reaching a fever pitch. The azaleas are ready to bloom, Amen Corner waits in silence, and patrons across the globe are preparing to soak in the drama of one of golf’s most hallowed traditions. But guess what? For Justin Thomas, the two-time major winner who has been on this stage for most of the last decade, the Masters isn’t at the top of his hype list. Yep, you heard that right. Not even close. A hot take, maybe!

In an appearance on the Throwbacks podcast on April 3, JT got candid about the nerves, the hype, and which event truly gets his adrenaline surging—and spoiler alert, it’s not Augusta. He talked about how the Ryder Cup will always be a challenge when it comes to handling nerves, saying his first Ryder Cup “in France was the most nervous I’ve ever been in my life.” Host Matt then asked, “Are you more nervous for that than, like, the Masters? The first tee off at the Masters?”

Thomas replied. “It’s not even close. The Ryder Cup is another level. I am getting goosebumps just talking about it. It’s cool. The emotion and getting excited, we don’t get to do that at tournaments without looking like an a*****. You don’t even realise it. It just comes out because it means so much and you are playing for so much more.” You could hear it in his voice. For all the pageantry of the Masters—green jackets, roars from the trees, history dripping from every blade of fairway grass—nothing compares, in JT’s mind, to the all-out, high-octane, national-pride-fueled chaos of the Ryder Cup. Thomas, of course, has some fond memories of the competition.

During the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National in France, Justin Thomas, playing in his first tournament, faced Rory McIlroy in the opening singles match on Sunday. Thomas secured a 1-up victory over McIlroy, with the match concluding dramatically on the 18th hole when McIlroy’s approach shot found the water, leading to Thomas clinching the point for Team USA. He went 4–1–0 but couldn’t prevent Team Europe from winning. During the podcast, Thomas further explained what makes the Ryder Cup special to him.

“You know, these guys that you don’t really want to play well all year? You actually get to root for. Like, I want Scottie (Scheffler) to get it close, and, like, Patrick [Reed] to make every putt, and Xander [Schauffele] to make it. So its you know, it’s nice to be on these guys’ team for a week, because, you know, they’re tough to beat once we’re playing every week.”  Considering golf as more of an individual sport, events like the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup make you set aside any personal rivalries and work together towards the bigger picture. As JT stated, you start to root for even the biggest of your rivals for a few days.

After the disappointment of losing in 2018, Thomas and Team USA turned up for the 2021 event with redemption on their minds. Thomas won his Sunday singles match against Tyrrell Hatton and went 2–1–1, helping the USA to a 19-9 triumph. But his recent appearance in 2023 stirred controversy.

Many critics questioned Captain Zach Johnson’s decision to include him despite a lackluster PGA Tour season. A two-time major champion with 15 PGA Tour wins, Thomas managed just 1.5 points out of 4 in Rome, adding fuel to the debate—especially as Team USA came up short. Despite Thomas’s comments about Masters not coming close to the Ryder Cup in terms of stakes, it remains important for him.

This year marks Thomas’s 10th appearance at the Masters. He recorded a 4th-place finish in 2020 and tied for 8th in 2022, but has missed the cut in each of the past two tournaments. He is looking forward to, but doesn’t want to be overprepared. “It’s a tournament everybody wants to win. It’s the biggest life changer, whatever you want to call it. But just the amount of overpreparation that’s done for it… and I’ve done it, I’d be the first to admit,” he said.

Still, while the world counts down the days to Augusta, Thomas is already looking beyond the green jacket and the hollowed hush of Magnolia Lane. His mind is racing ahead to Bethpage—to high-fives, beer showers, and booming drives down fairways surrounded by chanting fans and waving flags. So, who might be joining him in Team USA?

Potential Ryder Cup 2025 lineups for Team USA and Europe

Well, if you’re looking at Team USA, things are already heating up. After getting humbled in Rome in 2023—16.5 to 11.5, they’re going to want revenge. The qualification is still in progress, but the current points list gives us a good idea of who might make it. Scottie Scheffler is basically a lock. Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa? Also looking really solid. Russell Henley quietly climbed up the ranks, too.

Then there’s Bryson DeChambeau, who’s kind of the wildcard with his LIV Golf background—but his major finishes have been stellar. And Keegan Bradley, the new U.S. captain, has six picks at his disposal, so we might see some familiar faces like Cantlay, Finau, or even Justin Thomas if he makes a strong push late.

Now Europe? They’re on a mission to defend, especially after that dominant start in Rome. Remember when Hovland and Ludvig Åberg destroyed Scheffler and Koepka 9 and 7? That was insane. Luke Donald’s sticking with the same six-and-six format—six automatic qualifiers, six captain’s picks—but they’ve ditched the old European/World Points system.

It’s all streamlined now, which means a better balance between DP World Tour and global performances. Guys like Rory, Rahm, and Hovland are pretty much locks. Fleetwood, after sealing the win last time, should be back too. And keep an eye on guys like Nicolai Højgaard or Matt Fitzpatrick—young, hungry, and already battle-tested.

Bottom line? Expect a gritty, drama-loaded showdown. Bethpage is going to bring the noise, and both teams are shaping up to match that energy.