Justin Thomas on Europe's Ryder Cup plan: "I hadn't heard that, that's kind of wild"
Justin Thomas was unaware the European team have been using virtual reality headsets to prepare for the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black.
Justin Thomas admitted it was "kind of wild" the European Ryder Cup team have been using virtual reality headsets to prepare for the abuse they are expected to receive.
The 45th edition of the matches gets underway on Friday at Bethpage Black in New York.
Europe's quest to win a first away Ryder Cup since 2012 resulted in all 12 golfers using virtual reality headsets to replicate the abuse they are expecting this week.
Sports fans in New York are renowned for being among the most opinionated and unforgiving, so European skipper Luke Donald decided to sanction the new approach.
Reigning Masters champion Rory McIlroy did not reveal what abuse was relayed to his headset when he spoke on the subject at Wentworth two weeks ago.
"You don't want to know," he said, although he did say he told them to go "as far as you want".
Thomas told reporters on Tuesday he was unaware of Europe's approach.
"That's kind of wild," he said. "I'd be curious to see what that looked like."
Thomas was asked if the subject of crowd abuse at the Ryder Cup gets "overblown".
He said he goes back and forth on the topic. "You kind of know what you're going to get," he said.
"I think all the players are in the same boat, is once it ever gets to a point of being a little bit more personal of families, family members.
"Look, if we're not playing well and you're talking trash about us, we probably deserve it.
"But if you start getting into the loved ones, that's I think when everybody starts really kind of getting a little bit chippy. I go back and forth.
"There's obviously never in any sport a time to get personal or disrespectful, but at the same time it is the Ryder Cup, and it's a home game for a reason.
"There's been plenty of good, plenty of bad on both ends, and you hope to give them reason to cheer for the good."
"I have a hard time viewing myself as that"
Thomas will be making his fourth appearance in the Ryder Cup for Team USA.
He relied on a captain's pick, though his selection was not nearly as controversial as it was two years ago in Rome.
Thomas had a dreadful season by his standards and many viewed his inclusion down to interpersonal relationships with then captain Zach Johnson and Jordan Spieth.
Thomas was asked if he now views himself as on the leaders in the locker room.
"I don't know if I'm quite ready to call myself the veteran because I think I associate the veteran with an older player and I'm just not quite ready for that yet," he said.
"It's coming at me head on. It's just the reality. But I'm going to be anything that I feel like I need to be for this team, for certain players, for the captains.
"Yeah, I know that I'm one of the leaders on the team, but I don't think there's necessarily one person on the team the last handful or couple times I've been on that I'm like, this is the person that when in doubt, you're looking at them like what do we do or what's going on kind of thing, and I think that's kind of what has made this group, this age group or whatever you want to call it, a little bit different and special."
"He doesn't to me"
If Keegan Bradley's United States are to win back the Cup, then they will undoubtedly need the top-ranked Scottie Scheffler to be at his best.
Thomas said Scheffler, in his opinion, does not have the same aura as Tiger Woods despite being constantly compared to the hall of famer.
"He's definitely one of 12 when it comes to the team," Thomas said.
"I think it is very cool and unique that everybody on our team is. It's not like Scottie gets more points for winning a match than I do or J.J. Spaun or Collin Morikawa or Xander, whatever it is.
"At the end of the day it's just all about going and winning your point.
"All of us are very happy that he's on our team this week so we don't have to try to figure out how to beat him in an individual tournament.
"It's nice that he's on our side."
"No, he's just viewed as one of the 12, and we're all one and the same I'd say."
Ben Smith joined the GolfMagic team in September 2021, initially as a content executive.
These days, he assumes the position of content manager.
