Tiger Woods shows his class as PGA Tour praises ‘new side’ of legend | Golf | sport

Justin Thomas has told the golf world that he has seen a new side of Tiger Woods in recent weeks. Thomas and his wife Jillian recently welcomed their first child, a daughter named Molly Grace, who was born on November 18, 2024.

Despite the birth of his baby girl, Thomas still had an invitation to play with Woods in the PGA Tour’s Hero World Challenge event in the Bahamas. A close bond has developed between the two golfers, who are also neighbors in Jupiter, Florida, with Woods taking on a supportive role since the birth of Thomas’ daughter.

Woods, a 15-time major winner and father of two himself, was a source of guidance for Thomas. After all, few know better than Woods how to balance fatherhood and golfing duties.

Of Woods’ support, Thomas said: “He was incredible. I mean, yes. I saw a new side of him. I mean, it was just really cool.”

“He’s always checking in to see how I’m doing, how Jill’s doing, how Molly’s doing. He knew when Jill’s surgery was and called the night before and asked how everyone was doing.”

“I hung up and I just looked at Jill and she said, ‘I bet you didn’t think this would happen when you were growing up.’ I say, ‘No, I haven’t’.”

Thomas was able to draw on Woods’ experience as a world-class golfer and father of two children. Thomas added: “He loves his children so much and he knows how special the family is. He just knows that the love you give your kids is so different, even if you’re still a competitor.”

“You don’t necessarily have to lose your competitive drive, and if anything, it might even become more so. It’s just about separating the two, but also just enjoying it and everything.”

Asked if there was any advice from Woods that stuck with him, he said: “I think he was just great as far as that goes – he says, ‘No, spend time with your family, that’s what you do.’ ‘.” “When I just want to talk to him, he says, ‘No, take it all in,’ the special moments or whatever.”

On the golf front, Thomas has put in an impressive performance at the Hero Challenge so far, scoring a 66 in the first round followed by a solid 67 in the second round. This positioned him competitively alongside Scottie Scheffler, Akshay Bhatia and Keegan Bradley.