$177M Dream Eludes Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth After Distressing Playoff Loss

Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth have encountered unexpected setbacks, but surprisingly, this time, it’s not related to golf. What could possibly go wrong for golf professionals if not golf? Well, the unexpected turn of events involves football, specifically the recent loss of the Championship play-off final by Leeds United Football Club against Southampton at Wembley.

In 2023, Spieth and Thomas joined the San Francisco 49ers owners’ bid to acquire Leeds United, becoming investors in the 49ers consortium. Spieth, in particular, expressed excitement about owning the English football club, as he enjoys the sport and frequently watches Premier League action.

However, it appears that the excitement has diminished after the loss, as the team will now have to contend with a second successive season in the second tier. They must go back to the drawing board after failing to deliver in an important match. As the team faces setbacks after losing a $177M game, Thomas and Spieth may also encounter a similar fate, given their stake in one of England’s most historic clubs.

Leeds came in one spot ahead of Southampton in third place during the regular season, but their performance in the Championship play-off begs questions about Daniel Farke’s management. The fact that Leeds couldn’t get past Southampton’s defense is definitely a big setback for the team’s owner, 49ers Enterprises Global, a group that is led by the San Francisco 49ers, an NFL team.

This consortium includes both the golfers and Hollywood actors Will Ferrell and Russell Crowe, as well as Olympic swimming titan Michael Phelps. Aside from Spieth, Justin Thomas’ attention was almost entirely on the Leeds’ play-off, to the point that he was thinking about it even while competing in the PGA Championship, the second major of the season.

What did Justin Thomas say during the PGA championship?

While playing at Valhalla this year, the minority investor of the English Football League club was more excited about the football match than his round. Thomas was scheduled to tee off at 7:53 AM ET, while the match was supposed to start at 3:00 PM. Later, he excitedly revealed, “I’m very excited about my tee time on Thursday – that has worked out nicely.” He emphasized that he would be tuning in to the match after his round.

Following this revelation, it became evident just how excited the two-time major winner was. He also highlighted how much Spieth has helped him gain knowledge about the game, stating “We’ve definitely become a lot closer over the last year, and he’s given us a lot of insight and knowledge in terms of Leeds and sending us videos from games.” While the loss has undoubtedly dealt a significant blow to both golfers, it’s unlikely that they will exit the venture, especially considering they invested when the club was in the second division.