First impressions of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas as kids? Pro explains
Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas are two of the most accomplished players in the contemporary game. Since turning pro — Spieth in 2012, Thomas in 2013 — the duo has combined for 28 PGA Tour wins, five major titles and have established themselves as the core of U.S. Ryder Cup squads.
Their friendship goes back much further than just their battles on the pro golf circuit, though. In college, the two faced off against each other in the NCAA Championship at Riviera (Spieth’s Texas squad bested Thomas’ Alabama team), and before that they regularly clashed in AJGA tournaments and other junior events.
As two of the best players of their generation, Thomas and Spieth have been big names in golf their entire lives. And long before they were making history, they were sparring with other soon-to-be pros in the junior ranks.
One such player? Tour pro Thomas Detry, who was a member of the 2010 European Junior Ryder Cup team that faced off with Thomas and Spieth’s American squad. This week on GOLF’s Subpar, Detry joined Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz to talk about what it was like to square off with Thomas and Spieth before they were stars.
“[Thomas] was a little cocky,” Detry said with a laugh. “And I remember him spitting a lot for some reason. He was a 14-year-old kid just spitting around on the golf course … Justin is great, I get along really well with him.”
As for his memories of Spieth, Detry looks back fondly on his kindness. “Jordan has always been great,” he said. “Jordan is just still Jordan. He’s one of the nicest guys on the PGA Tour and was exactly the same back then.”
