For Justin Thomas, it’s a new season and new (aggressive) mindset

Justin Thomas missed Kapalua last year. He’s back now and hoping that doesn’t happen again.

And can you blame him? Hawaii in January is fantastic. Plus, if you are at the Sentry, that means you were good last season. It means you had at least some success, won a tournament or advanced deep into the playoffs.

Thomas was not at Kapalua last year, as his 2022-23 season was his first without a victory since his first full year on Tour a decade ago. He didn’t win last year either, but he did play well enough to finish in the top 50 in the FedEx Cup standings, meaning he got a spot in all of 2025’s Signature Events.

His play over the last two years — some good, some bad — has also made him a bubble boy for the last two team events, the 2023 Ryder Cup and 2024 Presidents Cup. For back-to-back seasons he failed to auto qualify but was just good enough — and had a strong track record in these events — to warrant captain’s pick consideration.

For the Ryder Cup, he was in. For the Presidents Cup, he was out.

News

“It’s terrible. I’ve unfortunately been [on the bubble] for two years, and it is not a fun place to be in,” said Thomas, speaking to the media Wednesday at the season-opening Sentry. “Not only waiting for the phone call, but then not knowing how the phone call is going to go, so it’s a lot of anxiety and a lot of stress.”

Thomas was out with his wife, Jill, when he got the call from captain Jim Furyk saying he didn’t make the Presidents Cup team. Thomas said it ruined the day and led to a beer at lunch.

“If it was my choice, if I was home, I would have gone straight to the range,” he said. “Like, alright, I didn’t make it, it is what it is, but, like, I’m going to prove why I don’t think that that was a good decision. Like I said, it was the right decision, but some things you just have to kind of tell yourself.”

That’s partly why Thomas has a newfound approach for this season.

“I haven’t had the opportunity to play pissed off for awhile, so I’m pretty excited to play a little pissed off this year,” he said.

And if you are wondering what exactly that means, a reporter on-site was there to ask the follow up for you.

What is pissed off golf?

“I obviously, I didn’t deserve to be on the [Presidents Cup] team, but mentally inside my mind I always think and know that I’m going to be a good addition to a team,” Thomas said. “So sometimes you have to tell yourself some things.”

“I love Jim, we talked many times, and our friendship and relationship hasn’t changed at all, but there would be nothing more I would love than about four, five six times this year text him and say, ‘Good call.’ [Laughs] But I’m glad that they won and was pulling for ’em like crazy, but luckily we’re close enough where I feel like I can do that and he won’t get too mad.”

Thomas tied for 14th at the Tour Championship last season, but his best finish came in October, when he traveled to Japan for the Zozo Championship. He shot 66 on Sunday and tied for second, falling a shot behind Nico Echavarria. Last month, he was third at the Hero World Challenge.

There’s also been another big change this offseason. His daughter, Molly Grace Thomas, was born in November.

Two winless years are behind him. But he’s starting 2025 right — in Hawaii.

“There’s no place I want to be starting my year more than Kapalua, so last year watching I was like it sucked pretty honest,” Thomas said. “I’m glad to be back.”

Thomas’ first round begins at 4:39 p.m. ET on Thursday alongside Hideki Matsuyama and Adam Scott. You can follow from 6-10 p.m. on Golf Channel.