Justin Thomas To Team Up With Cantlay’s Former Caddie After Split With Jim 'Bones' Mackay
The American will have a new man on the bag at the first men's Major of the year


Justin Thomas will have Matt Minister, former caddie of Patrick Cantlay, on his bag for next week’s Masters after splitting with Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay ahead of the first men’s Major of the year.
The American admitted it was “incredibly difficult” to announce the news and added that he would be “forever grateful” for Mackay’s contribution since the pair joined forces in 2021.
Mackay, famously the former long-term caddie of Phil Mickelson, was on Thomas’ bag when he clinched the second of his two PGA Championships at Southern Hills in 2022.
That was the last trophy Thomas lifted amid a slump in form and he will arrive at the iconic Augusta National at The Masters next week with a new looper.
According to Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, Thomas has asked Minister to fill in while he searches for a permanent replacement for Bones.
Justin Thomas & Jim “Bones” Mackay are elite in their craft. The split is surprising given the timing for sure.On the bag next week for @JustinThomas34 at @TheMasters will be veteran Matt Minister who was the caddie for @patrick_cantlay when he won the 2021 @TOURChamp.April 3, 2024
“On the bag next week for Justin Thomas at The Masters will be veteran Matt Minister, who was the caddie for Patrick Cantlay when he won the 2021 Tour Championship,” Lewis wrote on X.
Minister has been on the tour for best part of two decades and has worked with some big names throughout his career.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
He previously caddied for two-time Major winner Nick Price and has also enjoyed stints with Chris Kirk, Sangmoon Bae and Cantlay.
Minister was on Cantlay’s bag when he took down Bryson DeChambeau in a six-hole playoff to win a thrilling 2021 BMW Championship before he went on to pip Jon Rahm by a shot to scoop the FedEx Cup top prize.
After the duo went their separate ways following last April's Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Cantlay hired Tiger Woods' ex-caddie Joe LaCava.

A lifelong golf fan, Andy graduated in 2019 with a degree in Sports Journalism and got his first role in the industry as the Instruction Editor for National Club Golfer. From there, he decided to go freelance and now covers a variety of topics for Golf Monthly.
Andy took up the game at the age of seven and even harboured ambitions of a career in the professional ranks for a spell. That didn’t pan out, but he still enjoys his weekend golf at Royal Troon and holds a scratch handicap. As a side note, he's made five holes-in-one and could quite possibly be Retief Goosen’s biggest fan.
As well as the above, some of Andy's work has featured on websites such as goal.com, dailyrecord.co.uk, and theopen.com.
What's in Andy's bag?
Driver: Callaway Mavrik Sub-Zero (9°)
3-wood: TaylorMade Stealth 2 Plus (15°)
Driving iron: Titleist U500 (17°)
Irons: Mizuno mp32 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey SM9 (50°, 54° and 58°)
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron Newport 2.5
Ball: TaylorMade TP5x
-
US Open Betting Tips And Odds: Final Round Picks
Who are we picking to win the 2025 US Open?
-
LIV Golf Carlos Ortiz Said He ‘Deserved’ To Be At US Open… A Year On And He’s Contending To Win It
A year ago, Carlos Ortiz claimed he warranted a place in the US Open field - now, he's in the mix to take the title at Oakmont
-
PGA Tour Set To Unveil NFL Executive As New CEO
It has been confirmed that NFL Executive Brian Rolapp is leaving the organization, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter reporting he will become the PGA Tour’s new CEO
-
NBC Sports Chief’s ‘Total Sideshow’ LIV Golf Comments Raise Two Key Questions - How Will Saudi-Backed Tour Respond?
After NBC Sports chief Sam Flood called it a "total sideshow" we look at how LIV Golf could respond, with another huge cash injection or a change in strategy
-
Joaquin Niemann Leapfrogs Scottie Scheffler And Rory McIlroy As Golf's Top Earner In 2025 After LIV Golf Virginia Victory
The Chilean's fourth win of the year secured another $4 million and consequently catapulted Niemann to the top of the on-course earnings across all tours
-
Ryan Fox Wins The RBC Canadian Open Via Playoff After 'Shot Of His Life'
The New Zealander defeated Sam Burns at the fourth playoff hole, with Fox producing the shot of his life via a 260-yard fairway wood
-
RBC Canadian Open 2025 Round Four Tee Times
Matteo Manassero and Ryan Fox lead a tightly-bunched leaderboard at TPC Toronto with both looking for the biggest win of their careers so far...
-
'Of Course It Concerns Me. You Don't Want To Shoot High Scores Like The One I Did Today' - Rory McIlroy Endures Torrid Eight-Over-Par Round To Miss RBC Canadian Open Cut
After his eight-over 78 at TPC Toronto, McIlroy revealed he will be 'testing quite a few drivers over the weekend' as his attention turns to Oakmont and the US Open
-
Rory McIlroy Among 10 Big Names Who Missed The Cut At RBC Canadian Open
McIlroy's struggles off the tee continued at TPC Toronto, with the five-time Major winner among the big names who missed the cut at the RBC Canadian Open
-
Rory McIlroy Makes Key Gear Changes Ahead Of RBC Canadian Open (And US Open)
The World No.2 has a new driver, 3-wood and 3-iron in the bag this week in Canada