Justin Thomas isn’t just known for being a golfer; his heart and character on the course speak volumes, too. In a world where athletes often keep to themselves, Thomas’s genuine care for his fellow golfers stands out. One such moment came when Gary Woodland, a man who has fought through more than most could imagine, found a shoulder to lean on in Thomas.

Woodland was recovering from surgery to remove a benign brain tumor in September 2023. Unfortunately, he had been carrying the weight of his diagnosis for months. He was battling the physical, emotional, and mental toll of his condition while trying to play. During the 3M Open that year, Thomas unknowingly became a lifeline amid that struggle. Woodland recalled the same in a recent episode of the Fore Play Golf podcast.

So what happened was that a simple question from Thomas—“How are you doing?”—broke through the walls he had built around his emotions. Woodland got emotional as he shared how he had kept everything inside for four months. He hadn’t told anyone about the full weight of what he was going through until that moment when Thomas offered an open ear. “I had held it in for four months and hadn’t said it to anybody,” Woodland said, his voice cracking with emotion. That conversation marked the beginning of an unexpected but deeply meaningful friendship between the two, with Thomas providing Woodland not just support but an emotional release when he needed it the most. And this is not the only time it has happened.

Bud Cauley and Justin Thomas crossed paths in college, but their connection didn’t form until after they turned pro. Cauley, who turned pro in his senior year, never had the chance to team up with Thomas during college events. However, their bond developed later as they found common ground with other golfers in their late 20s, including Rickie Fowler, Peter Uihlein, and Patrick Reed. Having both attended Alabama, the two even shared a room on Tour, further solidifying their close friendship. Their friendship blossomed all the more after he moved to Florida, close to JT’s house.

“You could put us in any situation,” Thomas said of their bond, “and we’d have fun.” Both are passionate Alabama fans, and they often make trips to Tuscaloosa for football games when they’re not practicing at The Bears Club or Medalist G.C. during breaks at home. When asked about their friendship at the PLAYERS Championship, Cauley spoke highly of it.

“Yeah, it’s been great. J.T. and I are close friends and play a lot together at home. Our families hang out a lot now. It’s been great. He’s had an amazing career, and I try to pick his brain sometimes when I can if we’re out playing. But even more than that, it’s not even golf-specific. It’s just we talk more about life and stuff like that than we do about golf,” he said. Notably, despite their strong friendship and good chemistry as roommates and teammates at the University of Alabama, Justin Thomas and Bud Cauley were unable to translate that bond into success in the 2017 Zurich Classic, where they missed the cut.

Life has given a lot for Bud Cauley to be grateful for. He cherishes his life, and well, let’s just say that Justin Thomas’s support of him has made their friendship only grow closer.

Justin Thomas could not play when Bud Cauley had an accident

Bud Cauley said he was “thankful to be alive” after a car accident in 2018, describing it as “the scariest night of my life.” Cauley, then 28, was in a car with three others. This took a toll on JT as well, as he had a tough time playing after the accident. “It calmed me a lot after seeing him,” Thomas said on Saturday after Friday’s accident. “I couldn’t hit a shot, couldn’t play a hole, without thinking about him.” Thomas finished at T8 that year, having carded 11 under.

Cauley shared an update on Instagram, revealing that he had undergone surgery on Sunday. Cauley stayed in Ohio to compete in U.S. Open qualifying on Monday. He withdrew from the qualifier and posted on Instagram that he had no set timetable for his return to the PGA Tour.

Bud Cauley’s recovery and determination to get back to the PGA Tour are inspiring, and it’s a reminder of how quickly life can change. Let’s continue to follow his journey and support the golfers who face such challenges both on and off the course. Stay tuned for more updates on Bud Cauley’s journey.