Slumping Justin Thomas gave time to brighten Zach Johnson’s Cedar Rapids fundraiser

CEDAR RAPIDS — Playing in Monday’s Zach Johnson Foundation Classic wasn’t going to get anyone on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

Yes, Johnson is the U.S. captain for the Sept. 29-Oct. 1 event in Rome. Yes, he’ll have six selections to make on his own to fill out the 12-player U.S. squad that will face the Europe team.

No, Justin Thomas’ participation in the ZJFC won’t tip things his way when Johnson makes those picks on Aug. 20.

But CBS golf commentator Colt Knost comfortably played the role of provocateur with a microphone while Johnson, Thomas and other PGA Tour pros warmed up on the practice tee Monday morning at Elmcrest Country Club.

“It just so happens Justin shows up for the first time,” Knost said teasing and noting Thomas is 14th on the U.S. Ryder Cup points list. The top six at the end of the Tour season next month are automatic selections. Thomas was in the top six in 2018 and 2021, the last two Ryder Cup years.

“Thank you for making it awkward,” Johnson told Knost in the bull session. Thomas paid Knost little mind, saying later “That’s Cole yapping. I’m used to that.”

Thomas had been high on every Tour statistical list since soon after he joined the Tour. He was ranked No. 1 in the world for five weeks in 2018, and was No. 5 after he won the PGA Championship last year.

He became the sixth player to win at least 15 Tour events and two major championships before turning 30. Only Jack Nicklaus, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy had done likewise.

Thomas was amazingly consistent with his great play from 2017 to 2022, finishing in the top seven of the FedExCup points standings each season. But he came to Cedar Rapids in 79th place this year, having missed five of his last seven cuts. He missed the cut in three of the four majors, and tied for 65th place in the other.

He had a second-round 78 at the Masters, a second-round 81 at the U.S. Open, and a first-round 82 at the Open Championship.

Thomas was a late addition to the 3M Open in Minnesota last week because he found himself needing to play that and at this week’s Wyndham Championship if he hoped to get into the top 70. He missed the cut at the 3M Friday and spent the next two days there working on his game and waiting for the ZJFC’s chartered flight to Cedar Rapids Sunday night.

Were Johnson forced to make his six picks today, Thomas might be considered a reach. His career’s body of work, including a 6-2-1 record in Ryder Cup play, would argue otherwise. His play this year would not.

Thomas can either play well enough at the Wyndham to leap into the top 70 and have one or more playoff tournaments to show his game is bouncing back, or he’ll be on the sideline during the three playoff tourneys as other players are showcased.

“I try not to read or listen to much,” Thomas said while on the Elmcrest course Monday. “There are different kinds of pressure. Mine is internal.”

He didn’t look stressed, signing a multitude of autographs and playing a relaxed round on Elmcrest’s tight track. He said he came to Cedar Rapids because his schedule opened up.

“At first he was going to play just Greensboro,” Johnson said, “but then he was going to play Minnesota and Greensboro.”

That, obviously, made it easier to work a quick Iowa stop into his schedule.

“It was easy to come here and then go to the Wyndham,” Thomas said.

“He told me ‘I want to come, I haven’t been there yet,’” Johnson said.

Thomas had to have signed as many autographs as anyone at Elmcrest on Monday. A spot just outside the ropes at the No. 10 tee was for kids 12 and under to get autographs before the pros proceeded to the green. Many people four and five times older than 12 asked Thomas for his signature.

“Thanks for coming to Iowa, buddy,” someone told him.

“So happy you’re here,” said someone else.

“Hope to see you at the Ryder Cup,” said another fan, and the feeling was mutual.

Oh, I may have buried the lead. This year’s ZJFC raised about $1.2 million for Kids on Course, which puts more Cedar Rapids students at high-poverty schools on a path to post-secondary education.

Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com