Monday, April 21st, 2025 Balls & Bogeys Golf News Edition
Justin Thomas drains clutch playoff putt to capture RBC Heritage, returning to winner’s circle
– by Shane Ryan / Golf Digest
Per Shane: “Justin Thomas knew he had at least a small advantage on Andrew Novak after they hit their respective approaches on the first and only playoff hole of the RBC Heritage on Sunday, and walking to the green, he shared a thought with his temporary caddie Joe Greiner: He’d never hit a putt to win a tournament…”
B&B POV: Justin Thomas turned back the clock with a win at the RBC Heritage this weekend. Three years removed from his last Tour victory, he’s baaaaaack.
Now ranked 6th in the world, sitting 6th in the Ryder Cup standings for an automatic spot, and 2nd in the FedEx Cup race, JT is putting together one heck of a bounce-back season.
What’s left to do? He needs to give his bestie Spieth a friendly kick in the arse to get him firing on all cylinders too. If both are in form and teamed up, Team USA’s chances of reclaiming the Ryder Cup this September look a whole lot better.
Garrick Higgo’s 72 is enough after Joel Dahmen’s three straight closing bogeys at Corales
– by Todd Kelly / Golfweek
Per Todd: “Garrick Higgo shot even-par 72 on Sunday in the final round of the 2025 Corales Puntacana Championship and it proved to be enough for him to earn his second PGA Tour win, a victory aided by three straight bogeys by Joel Dahmen on Nos. 16, 17 and 18…”
B&B POV: Garrick Higgo shot an even-par 72 on Sunday—and believe it or not, that was all he needed to snag his second PGA Tour win at the Corales Puntacana Championship.
The real plot twist? Joel Dahmen, Netflix star and a huge fan favorite, looked like he had this one in the bag early on. He opened the week with a course-record 62, set the 36-hole scoring record, and was tied for the 54-hole lead. Basically, he was on cruise control heading into Sunday. Then he painfully choked it away live on the Golf Channel, bogeying his final three holes. Dang, golf is hard, even for the pros we look up to. This loss is going to sting. And sadly, it should.
What’s in the Bag (WITB): Justin Thomas, 2025 Edition
– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: Back in 2022, JT walked off the green at the PGA Championship clutching the Wanamaker Trophy like a boss. At just 29, he was already a two-time major champ and had racked up 15 PGA Tour wins. Life was good. He was cruising. He was handsome, tall, and rich. The guy was basically golf’s golden retriever—energetic, always winning.
And then his game started to deteriorate, his confidence waned, and every time he was in contention to win a tourney, he failed. But at least he kept getting those big fat checks from the club manufacturer he endorses, Titleist—the best in the business.
Justin Thomas’ Golf Gear at the 2025 RBC Heritage:
DRIVER: Titleist GT2 (10 degrees), with a Mitsubishi Diamana Blue Board prototype shaft
FAIRWAY WOODS: Titleist TS3 (15 degrees), with a Mitsubishi Tensei AV Raw Blue 85 TX shaft; Titleist 915 Fd (18 degrees), with a Fujikura Motore Speeder VC 9.2 Tour Spec X shaft
IRONS: Titleist T200 (4), Titleist T100 (5), 621.JT prototype (6-9), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shafts
WEDGES: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (46 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 shaft, (52, 56, 60 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts
PUTTER: Scotty Cameron for Titleist Phantom X5.5 prototype
BALLS: Titleist Pro V1x
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The 2025 RBC Heritage Payouts: Winners & Losers
– by Thomas Hamden / Balls & Bogeys
Per Thomas: JT was already a member of the PGA TOUR Richy Rich Club before his victory yesterday, but after collecting $3.6M and a nice plaid blazer for his efforts, he’s now amassed $66,626,027 in career earnings. Yesterday, he leapt past buddies Jason Day and Jordan Spieth on the all-time earnings list to land in 10th place…
Who helped Justin Thomas get his putting groove back? You wouldn’t guess if we gave you a thousand tries
– by Shane Ryan / Golf Digest
Per Shane: “When the dust had settled on his win at the RBC Heritage Sunday, Justin Thomas rose to No. 5 in the world for the first time since 2022, and also bagged his first trophy since the PGA Championship that year. His off-the-tee game was actually below average in Hilton Head, his iron game was exceptional, but his best attribute? Putting, where he finished third in strokes gained for the week….”
B&B POV: JT’s putting has vastly improved this season? Why? Putting into play a new prototype wand personally crafted by Scottie Cameron himself would lift anyone’s confidence. But that’s not the primary reason. The most significant impact on why his putting has jumped from worst to tickling first on tour is a special session JT had with buddy and key competition Xander Schauffele. Schauffele, who has been considered one of the better putters playing golf for a living since joining the tour ranks, shared his secrets and process for success. What JT learned is paying off in spades.
What kind of gift do you send to a friend who has turned around his once prodigious career? We vote for a Ferrari. Red. Always red.
FEATURED CURATED LESSON
‘Pay attention to Justin Thomas’ Putting Speed Control Drills’
| We went searching for a putting lesson video to share on B&B, and came up with this doozy. Click the button to watch. |
YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS…
Do any Easter egg hunting this past weekend?
Things you just can’t make up. Don’t miss these random nuggets of gold we found on the interwebs. You’re welcome.