Justin Thomas reflects on Masters disasterclass without Bones

Justin Thomas says he 'didn't handle the moment well' as he reflected on a disastrous Masters performance that saw him miss the cut by one stroke in his first major appearance without Bones on the bag. 

For the second straight year Thomas, 30, collapsed when his inclusion over the weekend appeared to be all-but assured. 

With four holes remaining in the second round at last week's major, Thomas sat at even par.

He was well within the projected cut that was expected to move to five over. 

But then Thomas uncharacteristically made a double bogey on 15 after pulling his drive into the water. 

At the par-3 16th, Thomas three-putted for another double after finding the sand. 

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Thomas lipped out for par at 17 before a pulled drive at 18 led to another double. 

His seven-over 79 saw him miss the cut by one and helped move the line as well. 

In 2023, Thomas also missed the cut by one after playing his last eight holes in six-over. 

Thomas made the decision to part ways with Jim 'Bones' Mackay seven days before the 2024 Masters. 

Despite wishing the legendary caddie well, both have remained tight-lipped over what happened. 

Renowned golf instructor Butch Harmon told GolfMagic he was 'shocked' about the decision. 

Harmon told us he had exchanged texts with Bones but the 58-year-old wouldn't divulge what happened. 

Thomas spoke to Alex Miceli about the 2024 Masters where he explained what happened was 'hard to swallow'. 

“Probably just didn't handle the moment I was in as well as I should have but I knew that I was playing well," he said. 

He added: “I'm very, very hard on myself. And it doesn't help me too often. 

"And just trying to realize that it's in the past and I was playing really good golf, and I just needed to get over it.”

Thomas said he has recently turned his attentions to journaling to help clear his mind. 

And he's making sure that he gets out of the 'grind' mindset by relaxing with his buddies off the course. 

“I always felt like I like had to write certain things down," he said. 

"And now it's like I literally just, I put the pen to the paper. 

"And sometimes I write two paragraphs are two sentences. 

"And sometimes I write six pages. I just get everything out. That's in my head.”

He continued: "They didn't even know but hanging out with my friends helped me more than they realize. 

"It's just literally just having a couple beers and watching sports and just bull-------- with my buddies that I don't really get to see anymore. 

"I think part of that kind of brings me back to 23, 24-year-old and takes me away from this grind.”

Thomas wasn't the only high-profile name who struggled at the 2024 Masters. 

Viktor Hovland also missed the cut and withdrew from this week's RBC Heritage at Hilton Head. 

Thomas decided to persevere and posted an opening round of two under 69 at Harbour Town Golf Links. 

After 18 holes he was six strokes behind the leaders at the signature PGA Tour event. 

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