Justin Thomas shared a funny moment involving Tiger Woods during a pre-tournament press event at East Lake Golf Club, where the PGA Tour’s top 30 players compete in the Tour Championship. The “Justin Thomas Tiger Woods Moment” came up when Thomas recounted an experience from 2020, highlighting Woods’ ability to quickly outwit him despite no longer actively competing at the same level.

Thomas explained that during a practice round at East Lake, he FaceTimed Woods to show him the course since Woods hadn’t qualified for the tournament that year. Unexpectedly, Woods pretended the call dropped, only to call back moments later wearing his green jacket, a subtle reminder of his Masters victory and Thomas’ absence from the event.

“Probably my best memory, and I couldn’t even tell you what year it was, it was probably — I guess it would have been 2020,”

Thomas said.

“I remember playing here, playing a practice round and walking down 18 and FaceTiming Tiger and — because he wasn’t here and didn’t qualify, just showing him how the course was and how great it was.”

“And then he acted like his phone cut out and then he called me back two minutes later with his green jacket on. I remember that very, very, very vividly.”

This incident is particularly amusing given Woods’ history as a dominant force in golf and his reputation for often getting the better of his fellow competitors, even in casual moments.

The Context Behind the Green Jacket Call

Woods’ green jacket symbolizes his 2019 Masters Tournament victory at Augusta National Golf Club, one of golf’s most prestigious titles. The 2020 Masters was postponed to the fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic, extending Woods’ reign as reigning champion longer than usual. Meanwhile, Thomas, despite his many achievements, has not enjoyed the same level of success at Augusta, with just two top-10 finishes and missing the cut twice in the past three years.

This background gives further weight to Woods’ playful reminder to Thomas during their FaceTime call, underscoring Woods’ status as a golfing legend and Thomas’ ongoing pursuit of similar greatness.

“Just a typical conversation (with Woods) of thinking I am having some kind of upper edge, and I get shut down and put in my place pretty quickly. There’s a lot of golf things here and there that have obviously happened, but that’s the first thing that came to mind when you said that.”

The Evolving Relationship Between Thomas and Woods

Beyond competition, Thomas and Woods share a close friendship as neighbors in Jupiter, Florida, a hub for professional golfers. Thomas has often spoken about the more personal, caring side of Woods, giving fans a glimpse of a relationship that extends well beyond the golf course.

In late 2024, Thomas described a different dimension of Woods’ character, revealing how Woods regularly checks in on him and his family, showing genuine concern during difficult times.

“I’ve seen a new side of him,”

Thomas remarked.

“I, mean, it’s just been really cool. He’s always checking in wanting to see how I’m doing, how Jill’s doing, how Molly’s doing. He knew when Jill’s surgery was, and he called the night before asking how everybody’s doing. I hung up and I just looked at Jill and she said ‘I bet you didn’t think that was going to happen when you were growing up.’ I’m like, ‘No, I didn’t.’”

This example highlights how Woods’ role has shifted from fierce competitor to mentor and friend within the golfing community.

Looking Ahead to Woods’ Future in Golf

Woods has faced a challenging period marked by multiple serious injuries, which have impacted his ability to compete consistently. The 2025 season was entirely missed by Woods due to a ruptured Achilles tendon, fueling uncertainty about his return to professional play.

While Woods’ competitive future remains uncertain, he is involved in new ventures like TGL, an innovative indoor golf league backed by himself and Rory McIlroy. It is still unclear if Woods will be fit to participate when Season 2 begins, but his ongoing contributions to the sport continue in various forms beyond active competition.