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Alabama football fan and former Tider, Justin Thomas wins BIG on PGA Tour

By Ronald Evans

ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 24: Justin Thomas of the United States celebrates with the trophy on the 18th green after winning the FedExCup and second in the TOUR Championship during the final round at East Lake Golf Club on September 24, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 24: Justin Thomas of the United States celebrates with the trophy on the 18th green after winning the FedExCup and second in the TOUR Championship during the final round at East Lake Golf Club on September 24, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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Former Tide golfer and passionate Alabama football fan Justin Thomas won BIG on Sunday. Thomas won the FedEx Cup, pushing his season earnings to $19.9 million.

The percentage of Alabama football fans who regularly follow professional golf may be small. It is hard to connect with the game if you do not play the game. As a spectator sport, golf is even slower than baseball.

So we understand if you failed to notice the REALLY BIG DEAL that Justin Thomas won the PGA season-ending FedEx Cup and is a near lock to be named the PGA Player of the Year.

Thomas won five PGA tournaments in the 2016-2017 season. He missed winning a sixth on Sunday by one shot. Even without winning last weekend’s Tour Championship, Thomas’ second-place finish earned him the season long, FedEx Cup Championship. And that FedEx Championship came with $10 million prize money, taking Justin to $19.9 million in earnings for the season.

This tweet sums up Justin’s career from Louisville to Tuscaloosa the East Lake Club in Atlanta, site of the Tour Championship.

Some will argue Justin was destined to be a champion professional golfer. None will argue that he made a mistake leaving Alabama men’s golf early, following the team’s 2013 National Championship. Justin is the son and grandson of PGA teaching professionals. He played in his first PGA Tour event in 2009 at the age of 16 and made the cut.

Justin’s hard work pays off

Make no mistake, golf’s new Golden Boy did the work to become great. Young golf wunderkinds flash and crash by the dozens every season. College golf stars often fail to succeed as professionals. What separates Justin may be a commitment to working hard and working a plan. Check out his note to himself defining his goals for the past season.

Justin Helps Alabama Football

A few weeks ago Alabama football kicker Andy Pappanastos reached out to Justin through a mutual friend. Tommy Deas of tidesports.com described the exchange,

"Justin Thomas talked. Andy Pappanastos took notes. They didn’t talk about technique. Pappanastos wanted to know about the golfer’s thought process. “I’ve talked with him several times, just kind of picking his brain about the mental aspect of it. Since I’ve talked to him, I haven’t missed.”"

Thomas earned his first major win this season, taking the PGA Championship in August. In June he shot 63 in the third-round of the U.S. Open. The 63 matched Johnny Miller for the lowest round ever in the championship. It also set a new U.S. Open record being the lowest round under par in the tournament’s long history.

Justin Thomas is 24-years-old. Nothing short of some physical calamity will stop him winning many more tournaments and other golf majors. And nothing will ever separate him from his love for Alabama football and the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Next: 10 Alabama Football records that will never be broken

Justin is a member of the USA team in this week’s President’s Cup team tournament. The USA will compete with the rest of the world’s best golfers (excluding Ryder Cup players) in a match play event. Pairings have not been announced but in two-ball (doubles), there is little doubt that childhood buddy, Jordan Spieth will be paired with Justin.

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