Justin Thomas Has Big Ideas for What Should Come Next in Golf
Back in March, Justin Thomas told the media what many within golf have long been thinking regarding the PGA Tour-LIV saga: "I think we're kind of past the level of exhaustion."
Advertisement
It's been almost four years since LIV Golf shook up the sport, and Thomas – like most other players – is understandably frustrated. The framework agreement announced in June 2023 expired without a deal, and despite meetings earlier in the year between Tiger Woods, Jay Monahan and even White House officials, no concrete progress has been made.
But here's the thing about Thomas: Today, he's not complaining; he's looking at what he can do to help. When I asked him about the future of professional golf last week, his perspective was one of genuine optimism. And honestly, it's refreshing to hear someone focus on solutions rather than problems.
"The challenge is reuniting the top players and keeping the competition strong," he explained. "Fans want to see the best go head to head, and we need to make that happen consistently."
He's nailed it. Golf's magic happens when the superstars are all battling it out together. Remember those Sunday afternoons that got you hooked? Tiger chasing down Phil or watching Rory go shot for shot with Bryson? That's when golf feels electric – when you know the best players in the world are all right there, trying to rip one another's hearts out.
Advertisement
Thomas resonated with me as a PGA professional involved in the game's behind-the-scenes efforts to maintain and enhance it, particularly when he talked about golf's untapped potential. It's clear that JT is passionate about strengthening the sport, and his enthusiasm got me thinking more about what we, as an industry, can do to grow and improve golf.
"There's also a big opportunity, especially with younger fans and international growth," he told me. "I'd love to see the game become more accessible and modern without losing the traditions that make it special."
Justin Thomas (left) Jordan Spieth (center) and Patrick Cantlay sign autographs for young fans at the U.S. Open in Pebble Beach, California, on June 11, 2019.Michael Madrid-Imagn Images
This isn't just wishful thinking from a young star. Thomas sees real paths forward. The sport has struggled to capture younger audiences who expect different things from their entertainment. They want more personality, more access, more reasons to care beyond just the golf shots.
Advertisement
"It's a balancing act, but I believe we're headed in the right direction."
That optimism isn't naive – it's grounded in what he sees as golf's core strengths.
Think about it: In golf, every shot is like solving a puzzle, which keeps you coming back for more. And honestly, where else can you spend four hours with your buddies on a gorgeous course, talking smack and soaking up the outdoors? Same goes for catching a tournament – watching the pros work their magic at stunning venues with friends and family.
The real challenge? Making all that appeal to people who don't already get it.
Thomas, like many of us in the game, may be exhausted by the LIV conversation, but his energy and optimism about golf's possibilities are infectious. And frankly, that's exactly the kind of leadership voice among those in the professional game that the sport needs right now.
Advertisement
Related: The Soul of American Golf- A Journey Through the Game's Heart and Heritage
Related: Keegan Bradley's 2025 Ryder Cup Vice Captains Could Deliver Victory to US
Related: Allow Me to Introduce Myself
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 3, 2025, where it first appeared.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
17 minutes ago
- New York Times
Mike Brown on coaching the Knicks: ‘Nobody has bigger expectations than I do'
Mike Brown walked in confident and eager. His trademark thick glasses rested on the brim of his nose. A navy blue suit, orange pocket square and Knicks pin were part of his wardrobe. A smile as long as the ride from Madison Square Garden to Tarrytown, N.Y., where the Knicks practice, was plastered across his face. This was the look of a man in the moment, embracing each second. Advertisement A new journey was just beginning. Brown has had several of those throughout his 25-plus years in the NBA. He coached Kobe Bryant. He coached LeBron James. He's been to the NBA Finals. He was sitting in the passenger's seat in Golden State, along for the greatest ride the NBA has seen in some time. He made a disastrous franchise respectable, only to be fired less than three years in. Brown has been fired several times, twice after a single season. He's seen it all. Well, not yet. As Brown sits, he's the new head coach of the New York Knicks, a starved franchise with as much support as any in sports. Comparing this job to others he's held wouldn't be fair. Winning a title with the Knicks would be an achievement that can't be measured until it happens. New York was on the doorstep of its first NBA championship in more than 50 years and fired the man who helped build them up to that point. New York, a franchise with little to celebrate over the last two decades, decided that getting close under Tom Thibodeau wasn't good enough. Now, Brown becomes just the second head coach this decade to sit behind this exact microphone, and he becomes the first Knicks head coach in at least 20 years to face this kind of pressure. Welcome to New York. 'Nobody has bigger expectations, first of all, than I do,' Brown said. 'My expectations are high. This is the Knicks. I talked about Madison Square Garden being iconic. I talked about our fans. I love and embrace the expectations that come along with it. I'm looking forward to it.' Brown's name was circled at the start of the Knicks' coaching search. His experience as both a head coach and assistant intrigued New York's decision-makers. His work with some of the NBA's biggest stars was appealing. When the two sides finally sat down, Brown's willingness to collaborate with his assistants and the front office was a selling point that stuck with the people in charge, per league sources. Advertisement New York's winding search for a head coach lasted several weeks. It featured the organization reaching out to currently employed head coaches and being denied by all of their teams. It featured interviewing current assistant coaches, as well as holding conversations with college coaches, such as South Carolina's Dawn Staley. Ultimately, Brown was the only candidate to get a second interview for the head coaching vacancy, per league sources. The Knicks want to win a championship as soon as possible, and they have the talent to do that. Now, they believe they have the right coach, even if the process to get there included knocking on other doors along the way. 'I respect Leon's (Rose) process,' Brown said. 'I feel like I'm a detailed guy, thorough with everything I try to do. It's no different here. I was just myself throughout the process. I had great conversations with (James) Dolan and, obviously, Leon and his group. My whole thing is that I want to form a partnership with (Leon). I want to do this together. It's impossible to do it on your own. 'The outcome, obviously, is exciting for me because I'm sitting in the seat that I wanted to be in.' It's not every day that a newly hired head coach walks into a locker room with the talent level of the Knicks. Jalen Brunson is Batman and Karl-Anthony Towns is an overqualified Robin. OG Anunoby, Josh Hart and Mikal Bridges are as good a wing trio as you'll find without a single All-Star appearance. Miles McBride is a scorer and point-of-attack defender off the bench and Mitchell Robinson just wrapped up a postseason where he was as dominant as anyone on the roster. Over the last week, New York added more firepower to its second unit by bringing in Jordan Clarkson and Guerschon Yabusele. The Knicks can still add one more veteran-minimum player to the roster this offseason. Advertisement The foundation is there, and it's on Brown to best maximize the talent. New York finished the regular season with the fifth-best offense in the NBA, but that number was a bit deceiving. The Knicks had just the 16th-ranked offense from Jan. 1 to the end of the regular season (Brunson did miss a month in March due to injury). The Brunson-Towns pick-and-roll never truly terrorized defenses like it was supposed to. The offense as a whole struggled against premier defenses when healthy, even in the playoffs. This New York team was designed to be one of the best offenses in basketball. It never consistently hit that point last season. For the Knicks to secure an elusive championship, they'll need this offense to be humming. And that's where Brown comes back into play. While widely known for his defensive acumen, Brown coached one of the most efficient offenses in modern NBA history in his first season in Sacramento and has had a top-10 offense six times as a head coach. 'I thought what this group did this past year in the playoffs, it just shows their potential, not just defensively but offensively, too,' Brown said. 'I'm looking forward to putting a plan in place and working with those guys on both ends of the floor. I love their length and I love their versatility. So, implementing my vision is very exciting for me and, hopefully, it is for everyone else. I think the ceiling is high on both ends for the group.' There's a lot beyond talent that goes into winning an NBA championship. Just ask the Thunder and Pacers. Injuries, luck and timing all play into the equation. Brown might have been brought here to win a championship, but only so much is in one man's control. The Knicks made it clear that what the old head coach could dictate, despite being the most successful head coach the franchise has had in 20-plus years, didn't get the job done and wouldn't have going forward. New York's braintrust believes that either Brown's voice or the change in imagination — they're hoping for both — will raise the franchise to where those in charge believe it should be. Brown, who said he will collaborate with Rose throughout the offseason to finalize his coaching staff, enters a situation where the spotlight will be on him simply because of the expectations of his bosses. Whether that is fair or not, that's the reality. Brown will either be a hero in the greatest city in which to be one, or he'll just be another coach trying to find room in the revolving door. We're just a few months away from beginning to see which direction this thing will go. 'Our goal, starting with (James) Dolan, to Leon, to the players, all the way down to the fans is to build a sustainable, winning culture that produces championships,' Brown said. 'That's why I'm here.'

Associated Press
22 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Avalanche add former Kraken head coach Dave Hakstol as assistant to boost power play
DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Avalanche added former Seattle head coach Dave Hakstol to their staff Tuesday as an assistant to boost a power-play unit that struggled in the postseason. Hakstol joins an Avalanche staff under coach Jared Bednar that includes Nolan Pratt, goaltending coach Jussi Parkkila and assistant/video coach Brett Heimlich. The 56-year-old Hakstol will direct a power play that features Nathan MacKinnon and Cale Makar but scuffled against Dallas in the first round of the playoffs. The team was 3 of 22 on the man advantage in a series that went seven games. Colorado also allowed seven goals in the Stars series while short-handed. After the season, the team parted ways with assistant coach Ray Bennett, who was in charge of the power play. Hakstol served as the first head coach in Kraken history and was in charge from 2021-24. His team made the postseason in 2023 and eliminated the Avalanche in the first round of a series that went seven games. He finished 107-112-27 with Seattle. 'Dave brings a wealth of knowledge and experience behind the bench and will be a great fit on Jared's staff,' Avalanche general manager Chris MacFarland said in a statement. 'He has an extensive coaching background with a lot of success and will be a valuable addition to our team.' Hakstol also was the head coach in Philadelphia for parts of four seasons and went 134-101-42. Before the NHL, Hakstol spent 11 seasons as the head coach at the University of North Dakota, leading the team to seven Frozen Four appearances. In international competitions, he won a pair of silver medals as an assistant coach with Team Canada at the IIHF World Championship in 2017 and 2019. The 2017 squad featured MacKinnon and the 2019 team had Avalanche goaltender Mackenzie Blackwood. 'This is a proud organization with a lot of talented players,' Hakstol said. 'I look forward to being a part of this special group and can't wait to get to work and help the team in any way that I can.' ___ AP NHL:


Fox News
35 minutes ago
- Fox News
Fox Nation saddles up for live sports with a groundbreaking new PBR partnership
Fox Nation is making its first big move into the live sports arena with an exclusive partnership with the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) league. In a bold move to expand its entertainment catalog, Fox Nation is entering the live sports arena with an exclusive new partnership with the PBR, beginning August 8. The streaming platform will air the "PBR Friday Night Live" series, marking the first time Fox Nation has offered weekly live sports coverage. According to the press release, PBR stands as the global leader in professional bull riding, featuring more than 1,000 athletes competing across 200+ events each year. In 2024 alone, PBR drew over 1.43 million fans to its events, with broadcasts reaching an audience of more than 288 million households across 67 countries and territories. The deal will bring Fox Nation subscribers a 10-week slate of bucking action across the U.S. The series kicks off in Sunrise, Florida, and will continue weekly through the fall with 10 Friday Night Teams broadcasts across the country, culminating in the league's championship opener on October 24 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In making the announcement, Fox Nation president Lauren Petterson said, "We could not ask for a better partner to kick off our first foray into live sports. PBR is an incredibly unique sport with an unrivaled, passionate fan base, and it's a great addition to the entire Fox Nation viewer experience." The announcement comes after Fox Nation's successful dip into Western-themed content earlier this year with Kid Rock's Rock N Rodeo — a hybrid team rodeo and concert event that drew strong viewership. PBR CEO and Commissioner Sean Gleason remarked, "We're thrilled to build on our strong partnership with Fox Nation to deliver live coverage of Friday Night Teams and the second season of Last Cowboy Standing. Kid Rock's Rock N Rodeo was a breakout hit in May for Fox Nation, proving that their devoted audience is eager for exciting Western sports content. The FOX platform is a perfect stage to showcase our athletes' stories of grit, courage, and determination." To build momentum for the "PBR Friday Night Live" series, Fox Nation will release season two of "Last Cowboy Standing" on Friday, July 11. The 10-episode series will follow eight amateur bull riders through their wild journey of trying to earn a fast-pass to achieving their dreams of joining a PBR team. The one-of-a-kind show offers viewers behind-the-scenes access to the emotional and physical journey of riders battling for their future in professional bull riding. As Fox Nation steps into the world of live sports, its alliance with PBR marks not just a strategic expansion, but a thrilling new chapter for both the platform and the fans, who can sign up today by clicking here.