KAPALUA, Hawaii – Justin Thomas apologized Saturday afternoon for voicing an anti-gay slur when he missed a 5-foot par putt on the fourth hole of the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
“There’s no excuse,” said Thomas. First of all, I apologize. I am an adult. I am a grown man; there is absolutely no reason for me to say such a thing. It’s awful. I am very ashamed. It’s not who I am; it’s not the kind of person I am or whatever I do.
“Unfortunately I did, and I have to admit it, and I apologize very much.”
Thomas said he didn’t know it was picked up and wasn’t a topic on social media until after his round.
Thomas finished 5-under-68, and he’s four shots behind on the lead.
The PGA Tour said in a statement, “As he said after his tour, we agree that Justin’s comment was unacceptable.”
He will likely be fined for conduct that does not suit a professional, although the PGA Tour does not disclose behavioral penalties.
A year ago, Scott Piercy lost two endorsement deals for sharing an anti-gay meme poking fun at Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, who is gay, when Buttigieg announced he was quitting his campaign. Piercy also referred to the far-right conspiracy theory QAnon.
Patrick Reed also had to apologize in Shanghai in 2014 when he swore coupled with an anti-gay slur after three wells.
Thomas, who reached number 1 in the world for a week last year, is the defending champion at Kapalua.
‘It’s bad. There’s no other way to put it, ”Thomas said. “I have to do better; I have to get better. It is definitely a learning experience. I … I apologize to anyone and everyone I have offended, and it will make me better.”