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Justin Thomas Behavior Towards Fan Catches Attention Before PGA Championship

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Rodney Knuppel | Last updated May 14, 2025 11:05 AM ET

Justin Thomas is still just 32 years old, but the former University of Alabama golfer has been in the spotlight for years. He rose to the top of the golf world in 2018 when he became the No. 1 player.

Despite some recent ups and downs, Thomas remains one of the most recognizable names in the sport. This week, he returns to an event where he’s seen success before, having won it twice — most recently in 2022.

While prepping for the 2025 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow, Thomas took a moment to connect with young fans. He signed autographs for a pair of kids on the course, and the moment quickly caught fire on social media.

The response online was overwhelmingly positive. Fans were quick to applaud Thomas for his genuine gesture:

"I like how JT made sure the kid received it from him instead of passing it to the dad, little things but impactful."

"Love to see that. Justin is a man of the fans."

"@justinthomas34 just seems like a solid dude. Like down for a beer and some laughs but trustworthy to comfortably be around your family. "

"awesome ."

"What a guy."

"Elite dude."

Thomas is coming into the tournament playing some of his best golf of the year. He won the RBC Heritage in April and finished runner-up at the Truist Championship last weekend. Earlier in the season, he also secured a second-place finish at the Valspar Championship.

At the season’s only major so far, Thomas placed 36th, closing with a final round 70—his best score of the weekend.

This year’s PGA Championship will be held at Quail Hollow, a par-71 course that stretches over 7,600 yards. The course has a rich history dating back to 1916. Xander Schauffele is the defending champion, having shot 21 last year to secure the title.

The first group tees off Thursday at 7:00 a.m. EST. Thomas, paired with Dustin Johnson and Collin Morikawa, will tee off at 1:14 p.m. EST.

One of the featured groups — Rory McIlroy, Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler — will start earlier, with an 8:22 a.m. local tee time.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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