How far would you go to attain that one win? Ask Justin Thomas, who can adapt to any major change to bring him the desperate victory he’s been chasing. Remember the 2022 PGA Championship? That’s when JT held the winning trophy, and since then, the drought of a winless streak has plagued his golfing career. So does that mean his skills have dimmed in any way? Not at all; take Justin’s last performance at the Zozo Championship, for example. He performed incredibly well with his 19-under total, tying for second alongside Max Greyserman.

However, golf can be cruel, as Nico Echavarría walked away with the trophy after edging both of them out by a single stroke. Imagine coming that close and leaving empty-handed—it can be frustrating indeed. But, of course, Justin Thomas can’t let these ‘near misses’ define him—he’s pulling out all the stops to get back in the winner’s circle—even if it means turning up the intensity and tuning out his usual camaraderie on the course. Every player is focused during the final rounds, but according to Greyserman, JT takes a step further, dialing in with an intensity that is hard to ignore.

During a conversation with Smylie Kaufman on his The Smylie Show, Greysermen shared, “We were friendly in the final round. JT was a little more businesslike. I mean, we’re all businesslike, but he was doing a little less talking than me and Nico.” So, has this stoic approach helped Justin Thomas in his career? Considering his 15 PGA Tour wins, that’s hard to deny. “There’s a reason why he’s won as many times as he has on the PGA Tour because I think there is a bit of intimidation of how he carries himself,” Greyserman explained.

Sound familiar? It should—this is straight out of Tiger Woods’ playbook. Woods is famous for his silent, laser-focused demeanor during the final rounds, creating an almost unshakable aura. Even Greyserman drew the parallel, noting, “Even in the final round, Tiger doesn’t really talk to anyone.” Well, this psychological approach does help these players in their game to have control over their playing partners by creating an intimidating aura by talking less or not talking at all. When it comes to winning, ‘everything’s fair in love and war’. For Thomas, it’s a war with his winless drought that he needs to conquer at any cost, and it seems like he has chosen Woods’ footsteps to follow.

Justin Thomas and Tiger Woods share a close bond

Thomas and Tiger Woods share more than just a spot on the PGA Tour. While both these players may have earned several accolades in their golfing careers, in each other’s company, they’ve got a bond that feels more like family. The duo has been described as having a “brother-like bond,” with Woods often referring to JT as his “younger brother.” It’s rare in sports to see two competitors with this kind of connection—a perfect amalgamation of friendship, mentorship, and a shared love for the game.

Justin Thomas often talks about how much he’s learned from Woods, but sometimes, their moments together are just pure fun. Take the Presidents Cup, for example; Thomas sank a huge putt on the 18th hole, and instead of a simple fist pump or polite cheer, he turned to Woods and shouted, “I love me some me!” Turns out, it was an inside joke from a Terrell Owens video that Thomas and his friends had laughed about. He’d told his team, “If I do something worthy today, I’m saying it.” Well, this mission was accomplished.

Notably, their bond goes deeper than just having fun—Justin Thomas grew up idolizing Woods, not just for the wins but witnessing how Tiger approached the game. “He’s been a lot, man… I respect him so much,” Thomas said in an interview, adding, “I looked up to him and his golf game, how he won, how he went about it.” It’s clear that this influence goes beyond admiration.

Justin has picked up on Woods’ signature intensity, especially in the final rounds of tournaments. That stoic, hyper-focused demeanor? It’s not just Woods’ thing anymore. So, what do you think of this incredible bond? Let us know in the comments.