Justin Thomas fires back after heavy criticism from Ryder Cup turf staffer

Justin Thomas says his comments about the putting surfaces during the Ryder Cup were "lost in translation". 

The American golfer hopped on the No Laying Up podcast this week to discuss a number of topics.

Chief of which was the United States' 15-13 home defeat at Bethpage Black to Luke Donald's Europe. 

Keegan Bradley's side had it all to do in the Sunday singles after Europe established a seven-point lead after two magical days in New York. 

Despite an incredible fightback, Thomas and the red, white and blue were on the receiving end of a home defeat for the first time since 2012. 

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The inquest into Bradley's captaincy has been swift and unrelenting and the 39-year-old told reporters this week he wants another crack at the whip because there is a "gaping hole" in his career.  

As for Thomas, he told NLU the American side were frustrated at the slow speed of the greens and even suggested there were arguments with the grounds team.  

His comments prompted a Bethpage Black turf staffer, who worked at the Ryder Cup in September, to fire a scathing rebuttal.

The staffer also accused Thomas and Team USA of not preparing properly for the 45th edition of the matches.  

Thomas has since told SiriusXM PGA Tour Radio: "It's unfortunate that things get lost in translation, or the context is not there.

"I feel that I don't ever, never said anything about this being a green's crew fault. 

"To my, this is all obviously to my knowledge, the captain doesn't have communication with, say, the superintendent or the green's crew. 

"Obviously he knows them, but it's not like Keegan is going to the superintendent of Bethpage asking what he has done, because I would assume for, you know, certain reasons that could probably get out of hand a little bit. 

"And, you know, the PGA of America is still setting up the golf course and doing things. So, you know, within, they need to know what's going on.

"So it was, it was more so with whoever the communication is with Keegan. 

"And I think that honestly, that point that the green's crew made is exactly my point. 

"The fact that, I mean, I know for a fact that Keegan was, you know, asking for a certain thing or a certain speed, and the fact that it never got relayed to them is that kind of proves the point that I was trying to make."

Keegan Bradley weighs in

The aforementioned Bradley was also asked about the situation ahead of the Hero World Challenge in the Bahamas. 

Bradley explained that once the Ryder Cup starts then the home team "lose control of the golf course". 

"They were given specifications of where to keep the greens and they felt that they had done that," said Bradley. 

"They did a great job. It's so difficult to figure out. 

"There's so much going on and you want the greens at a certain speed and they're telling you that they are. 

"You've got to take their word for it. 

"But the greens are so flat that it's difficult I think to get the pace that we were looking for.

"But the course was in great shape. You know, the Europeans, they just played so great.

"I wish that we could blame somebody, but we can't. Blame me, I blame myself for that lost. It would be nice to blame that but we can't."

Tiger Woods is expected to take the reins for the 2027 Ryder Cup at Adare Manor. 

Bradley believes Woods should take the job if he wants it. "I think if Tiger wants to do this, he's going to do it," he said. "

"Tiger is not only a hero to all of us that would be on his team, but he's also an incredible leader and a person that everyone would love to play for. 

"But I'm pretty sure when he wants to do this, he's going to get to be able to do it."

Woods told reporters he has not been asked about taking on the job yet. 

The 49-year-old also gave an update on where his teenage son Charlie intends to go to college.