Justin Thomas Apologises For Homophobic Slur - "It's Not Who I Am"
The World No.3 was heard on cameras making an anti-gay slur after missing a putt
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The World No.3 was heard on cameras making an anti-gay slur after missing a putt
Justin Thomas Apologises For Homophobic Slur - "It's Not Who I Am"
Justin Thomas has apologised and says he is embarrassed after cameras picked up a homophobic slur during the Tournament of Champions.
The defending champion and World No.3 missed a par putt at the fourth hole before saying the word under his breath.
“There’s just no excuse. I’m an adult, I’m a grown man. There’s absolutely no reason for me to say anything like that. It’s terrible," Thomas told the Golf Channel after his round.
"I’m extremely embarrassed. It’s not who I am. It’s not the kind of person that I am. But unfortunately I did it and I have to own up to it and I’m very apologetic.
“Like I said, it’s inexcusable. I’m speechless. It’s bad. There’s no other way to put it.
"I need to do better. I need to be better. It’s definitely a learning experience. I deeply apologise to everybody and anybody who I offended and I’ll be better because of it.”
A clip of Thomas' missed putt and slur has had over 100,000 views on social media, with Sports Media LGBT+ condemning the American's actions.
"The casual use of anti-gay language in sports - usually without homophobic intent - is a major reason why many athletes and coaches who are LGBT+ don't feel they would be made welcome if they came out," the account, which says it is "helping to build a sports community of #LGBT+ people and allies" wrote on Twitter.
The PGA Tour said in a statement: “As he expressed after his round, we agree that Justin’s comment was unacceptable.”
Related: Tour Gear Round Up - January Transfer Window
Thomas is four strokes off of the lead heading into the final round in Hawaii.
The 2017 PGA Champion is at 16 under par after three rounds, with Ryan Palmer and Harris English leading at 21 under.
Elliott Heath is our Senior Staff Writer and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news, features, courses and travel sections as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. Elliott has interviewed some huge names in the golf world including Sergio Garcia, Thomas Bjorn, Bernd Wiesberger and Scotty Cameron as well as a number of professionals on the DP World and PGA Tours. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as four Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays at West Byfleet Golf Club in Surrey, where his handicap index floats anywhere between 2-6. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!
Elliott is currently playing:
Driver: Titleist TSR4
3 wood: TaylorMade SIM2 Max
Hybrid: TaylorMade SIM Max
Irons: Mizuno MP5 4-PW
Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58
Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5
Ball: Titleist Pro V1x
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