"Oops!" - Jack Nicklaus Reveals Premature Justin Thomas Text

The 18-time Major winner texted Justin Thomas congratulations thinking he had won the Workday Charity Open

Jack Nicklaus Reveals Premature Justin Thomas Text
(Image credit: Getty Images)

The 18-time Major winner texted Justin Thomas congratulations thinking he had won the Workday Charity Open

"Oops!" - Jack Nicklaus Reveals Premature Justin Thomas Text

Jack Nicklaus once again hosts the Memorial Tournament this week at Muirfield Village with a huge field assembled including the world's top five plus 15-time Major winner Tiger Woods.

The Golden Bear revealed that he had an 'oops' moment on Sunday, however, when he prematurely congratulated Justin Thomas for winning the Workday Charity Open.

Thomas holed a 50 footer in the playoff for a birdie and it looked like he was going to take the title, however Collin Morikawa then holed a 25 footer to continue the action.

Jack Nicklaus didn't see Morikawa's putt as he was just boarding his jet to the tournament and both he and his wife Barbara texted Thomas to congratulate him.

It was only until he reached cruising altitude when his wifi returned and he realised that Morikawa actually won.

"I had a little bit of an "oops" last week myself," Nicklaus said.

"So we were getting on an airplane at 2pm which is when we were coming up here, and just as we were getting ready to take off, the first hole of the playoff, Justin Thomas holes that big long putt.

"Well, I saw the putt. We didn't see Morikawa's putt. Barbara and I both texted Justin and said to him, 'wow, what a fantastic putt, unbelievable fantastic super putt, can't believe that you made that putt. Now you've got the chance to win two in a row.'

"And then we got up in the air, and we picked up wifi after 10,000 feet, and we found out Morikawa won the tournament, and so I had to send him another text and say, 'Oops, a little premature.'

"He was good about it. He texted back and he said, 'All's good, it's okay.'

Related: Nicklaus vows to shake Memorial winner's hand - "I'm not going to give them Covid-19"

Thomas tweeted to confirm the story and said he was fuming following his defeat but the texts from the Jack and Barbara made him laugh.

Collin Morikawa won his second PGA Tour title at the Workday Charity Open and now has more wins than missed cuts in his 13 months as a professional.

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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. 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: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV