Justin Thomas’s Caddie Matt Minister Was Nearly Out of Job & Struggling Before a Big Career Rescue
The 2024 Zozo Championship could be a game-changer for Justin Thomas, if things fall into place for him. With a two-and-a-half-year winless streak on the line, he’s pushing hard to make this tournament his comeback. So far, he’s been putting on a show, carding a smooth 5-under 65 in Saturday’s third round.
Well, pretty impressive, huh! But Thomas isn’t the only one with high hopes. His new caddie, Matt Minister, has his own reasons to clinch the win. For Minister, a win would be his first with Thomas and a tremendous boost after some challenging times.
The last time Minister was seen on the course with a bag was back in 2021 when he caddied for Patrick Cantlay. The two partnered for all of Cantlay’s eight victories on tour, including when he won the 2021 FedEx Cup and was named PGA Tour player of the year. Now, after almost 3 years, the Minister has finally found a golfer to caddie for. Well, it seems like the bagman has familiarized himself with such long hiatuses.
How? Well, before caddying for Cantlay, Minister had a hard time finding a job for himself. Back in 2012, he caddied for the rising South Korean star Sangmoon Bae, who claimed two tournament wins, including the 2015 Presidents Cup. Just as Minister was hitting his stride, Bae was called back to South Korea for mandatory military service, and Minister was left searching for a new opportunity. From there, he bounced between players, eventually landing with Chris Kirk, only to be let go unexpectedly. Then, in a stroke of good fortune, Patrick Cantlay gave him a call in 2017, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Fast Forward to 2024, and here he is at Zozo Championship, caddying for Justin Thomas. But the real question remains: will this partnership bring Thomas the win he needs?
Matt Minister’s experience could aid Thomas in his quest for victory
Given Minister’s track record, Thomas may be in the right hands. The bagman has an impressive record of working with some renowned names in the golf world including Sangmoon Bae, Nick Price, Chris Smith, Joe Durant, David Eger, Chip Beck, Eric Compton, and Jeff Sluman. Minister has been on tour for the best part of two decades.
During his time with Price, they won four times on the 50-and-older circuit per TC Palm. And while Cantlay bagged eight victories on tour with Minister and now with Thomas, Minister seeks his first win with his new golfer, hoping for another peak moment at the Zozo Championship. This would not only add to Minister’s career achievements but also mark a promising start with Thomas as they both aim to break Thomas’ two-and-a-half-year win drought. What do you think will this partnership clinch the 2024 Championship trophy, let’s know in the comments.
