Justin Thomas calls PGA Tour players to action with impassioned letter

The body of the email was short and to the point: “Hey guys, please take a minute to look at the attached letter I wrote.” The relationship was much more passionate.

Justin Thomas sent an impromptu letter to his Tour players Tuesday morning urging them to provide more access and insight into their tournament pursuits. For JT, that means pre-round interviews, mid-round interviews – they already do post-round interviews regularly – wearing a microphone or communicating what they’re working on. In short, give more and give on broadcast TV.

“We’re incredibly lucky to have so many passionate people coming to watch us every week,” Thomas wrote, “but let’s be honest — this game can feel a little distant at times.”

Quoting the latest Fan Forward poll Tour done, Thomas said that “personality on the course” is the “highest driver of interest for young fans (18-34). Getting the younger age group interested and watching our sport can be a big difference in popularity ours.”

Thomas thinks engaging with the broadcast it’s the fastest way to humanize players to viewers watching at home, getting them into tournament-level thought processes and how they’re planning their way through a tournament round. Some of that comes during winning moments, others during losing moments, but it’s the players working on their craft that Thomas thinks could be missing if the players don’t lean. (You can read the entire letter below, a copy of which was sent to GOLF.com.)

“The more I’ve watched documentaries and specials on streaming services on other sports, the more I’ve come to realize that the main reason I love them so much is the access they provide and the knowledge the players are giving me; a fan of them and their craft,” Thomas wrote. “I had no interest in rooting for certain players, teams, coaches before watching a bunch of shows and games. But the way some of them show their cards and the way they go about everything makes me an even bigger fan.”

This comes at a time when the PGA Tour promises to focus on its fans. The aforementioned survey was answered by more than 50,000 people and will no doubt be a talking point throughout 2025 – especially as any changes or innovations emerge.

It also comes with a realization from Thomas. The 31-year-old pro wasn’t always so keen on developing viewership for the PGA Tour, and he acknowledged that in his post. Just four years ago Thomas told reporters“I wouldn’t wear a microphone, no, it’s not me.” The PGA Tour was just making its triumphant return after a 13-week hiatus during the start of the COVID pandemic, and Thomas’ friend Rickie Fowler held a microphone for one round. Thomas wanted no part of it.

“I mean, as close as those mics are on the tees and greens and as close as I get to the mics during the competition anyway, I basically feel like I’m being picked up by the mic,” Thomas continued. “I can’t say some things I usually say anyway.”

But in the years since, Thomas has clearly softened that stance. He is more involved with the Players Advisory Council – a collection of Tour members who represent the membership by raising issues with the tour’s policy board – which he was elected for the second consecutive year. Of course, Thomas was one of the first players in the history of the sport to wear a headset during the second round of the 2023 Masters tournament. In the past two months alone, Thomas has conducted general interviews at the Sentry and Hero World Challenge events.

“At the end of the day, we’re all owners in this tournament,” Thomas said to close the letter. “So making it bigger and better not only benefits us financially, but also our fans and gives us the opportunity to do bigger things down the road. Anyone with any ideas or thoughts, please contact me or any of the Tour staff to get the ball rolling on ways we can make our tour the best it can be.”

Thomas will have an immediate opportunity to make his impact in this department when he makes his TGL debut on Tuesday night. Although it’s not a mid-round interview at Torrey Pines, Thomas will be asked mid-match questions at the SoFi Center and encouraged to share what’s going on during the game. His Atlanta Drive team faces off against New York Golf Club at 7pm ET on ESPN.