Justin Thomas and his popular caddie, Jim “Bones” Mackay are going in different directions.
Thomas has announced that he had Mackay have split up after three year together, including a victory in the 2022 PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.
“While incredibly difficult for me to say, Bones and I have parted ways,” Thomas wrote in a post on social media. “I’m going to be forever thankful for him joining me on the bag in 2021. The things we’ve been able to accomplish together – The PGA Championship in 2022, The Presidents Cup, The Ryder Cups were all unforgettable experiences.
“His wisdom on and off the course has been a blessing during a tough stretch of my career and he was there every step of the way.”
Thomas and Mackay first teamed up in September 2021, but that PGA Championship was their only victory together.
The popular Mackay, who was Phil Mickelson’s caddie for 25 seasons, also spent four years as an on-course reporter for NBC Sports and Golf Channel and has filled in intermittently on broadcasts during Thomas’ off weeks, including as the lead analyst at the Mexico Open at Vidanta last March.
Mackay left his full-time television duties with NBC and the Golf Channel when he took the job as Thomas’ caddie, saying at the time: “I love to caddie and I loved my role with NBC/Golf Channel, but it’s Justin Thomas.”
Thomas, once the No.1-ranked player in the world, won his second major championship with Mackay on the bag, has not maintained the pace he had when he claimed all but one of his 15 PGA Tour victories before that.
In 2022-23, Thomas missed the FedEx Cup Playoffs for the first time and it was his first season without a victory since 2014-15.
Thomas has rebounded with four top-15 finishes in his first five tournaments of 2024, including a tie for third at The American Express. Thomas is 31st in the FedEx Cup standings and 28th in the Official World Golf Rankings.
“I know there are great things coming for both of us down the road,” Thomas said of Mackay. “I wish him the best of luck and will always count him and his family amongst my friends.”
Thomas is not playing in the Valero Texas Open beginning Thursday ahead of the 88th Masters next week.
