The week before the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, Justin Thomas made the shocking announcement on Wednesday that he had split with one of the top caddies in the game, Jim “Bones” Mackay.
Who will be on Thomas’ bag for the season’s first major, which takes place at Augusta National Golf Club from April 11–14, remains unknown.
Thomas posted on social media, saying, “While incredibly difficult for me to say, Bones and I have parted ways,” “I’m going to be forever thankful for him joining me on the bag in 2021. The things we’ve been able to accomplish together — the PGA Championship in 2022, the Presidents Cup, the Ryder Cups were all unforgettable experiences. His wisdom on and off the course has been a blessing during a tough stretch of my career and he was there every step of the way.”
“I know there are great things coming for both of us down the road. I wish him the best of luck and will always count him and his family amongst my friends.”
Mackay, who catered for Phil Mickelson from 1992 to 2017, helped the golfer win five of his six major championships. When Thomas wasn’t playing, Mackay was an NBC Sports pundit.
At the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational in July 2020, Mackay pounced at the chance to take Thomas’ bag when his regular caddy, Jimmy Johnson, wasn’t feeling well. September 2021 marked Mackay’s full-time hire with Thomas.
At the 2022 PGA Championship held at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Mackay assisted Thomas in winning his second major championship. However, Thomas, who was a contentious captain’s pick for the Ryder Cup in Rome and missed the FedEx Cup playoffs in 2023, has had a difficult two seasons.
Prior to missing the cut at the Players Championship and Genesis Invitational, two prestigious events this year, Thomas had three consecutive top-12 results, giving the impression that he was turning the corner. He is ranked 169th in putting (-.674) but fifth in approach strokes gained (.795).
