Justin Thomas will reportedly have Patrick Cantlay’s former caddie on the bag at the 2024 Masters after splitting with Bones, per a report.
Justin Thomas will team up with Patrick Cantlay’s former looper at the forthcoming Masters after parting ways with Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay.
According to a report by Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis, Thomas, 30, will have Matt Minister on the bag at Augusta National.
Minister is perhaps best known for his spell with Cantlay and the duo enjoyed considerable success together which saw the American crowned the 2021 FedEx Cup champion.
Cantlay is now working with Tiger Woods’ former looper Joe LaCava.
A week prior to the 2024 Masters, Thomas announced that he had ended his professional relationship with Mackay, who is 58 years old.
Both individuals have chosen not to disclose specific details about their breakup.
The pair began collaborating in 2020, and within a year, Mackay was offered the role on a permanent basis.
While working as a commentator for Golf Channel / CBS, Thomas approached him.
Thomas was searching for a new caddie following his split with Jimmy Johnson.
Johnson and Thomas were in a relationship for six years. Thomas clarified later that he did not fire Johnson.
He said that Jimmy approached him after the Ryder Cup and informed him of his decision to explore other options.
Mackay appeared to be enjoying his time behind the microphone and had no intentions of returning to caddying. Mackay stated that Thomas was the sole player he would caddie for on a full-time basis following his 25-year partnership with Phil Mickelson concluding in 2017.
Thomas has not achieved victory since he won his second major at the 2022 PGA Championship held at Southern Hills. The golfer, who previously held 15 Tour titles, has now fallen to the 28th position in the world rankings and has occasionally shown a decline in his performance compared to his past achievements.
Last season, he failed to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs for the first time in his career and acknowledged his luck in being chosen for the 2023 Ryder Cup in Italy. Scottie Scheffler is considered the top choice to win the green jacket in the upcoming week.
Viktor Hovland, Ludvig Aberg, Hideki Matsuyama, Jordan Spieth, Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Jon Rahm and Rory McIlroy are all favoured by the bookmakers ahead of Thomas.