PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The memories will last a lifetime for Justin Thomas. The Titleist tees could, too.
Thomas was the 16-year-old who became the third youngest player to make the cut in a PGA TOUR event at the Wyndham Championship in August. Thomas, who earned a spot in the field by winning a junior event, missed the second cut after three rounds and did not get to finish the tournament.
However, he still enjoyed the perks of his first taste of fame: Facebook friend requests, text messages from strangers and, best of all, access to a Titleist van at the tournament. His locker was pre-stocked with balls, hats and a glove. He received a much-needed new putter, too, but one item had him coming back for seconds.
Tees.
"I pretty much raided the Titleist van," Thomas said. "Every time I went in there, I took a handful. I was in and out."
Really?
"I took some, too," father and caddie Mike said. "You can't get those tees anywhere."
Thomas' golf bag was still stocked at the United States Junior Masters at the Ocean Course at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, which concluded Wednesday. Thomas, who owns more than 110 wins since age 8, lost in a playoff.
The Wyndham experience hasn't changed him too much. Like any budding golfer, he has good days (winning the Kentucky high school state championship) and bad ones (making a 10 on No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass in a September junior event).
College is more than a year away, and he's narrowed his choices to Alabama, Florida State, LSU and Texas A&M. First, he needs to get his driver's license. That may come in early 2010. However, he's not wasting time when it comes to getting back on TOUR. Thomas is pushing for an invite to next season's Travelers Championship.
"I might as well try," he said. "The worst that's going to happen is they're going to say no."
He'd also like to give the Wyndham another chance. This past season, he was tied for fifth after a first-round 65, during which he started "thinking of winning." Chills ran down when fans applauded his introduction on the first tee, a noise that grew louder each day as his story spread.
"After more and more people asked about it and wanted to know how it was, and I kept talking about it, I realized how cool it was," Thomas said. "It was a fun week, and I really didn't want to leave."
The one Wyndham memory few know about occurred early Friday morning, when the weather-delayed first round finished up. Thomas got to the course at 5:30 a.m. to ensure a precious spot on the modest driving range, anticipating a 7 a.m. start.
He went to eat. Nobody was there. He went to practice. The range was empty. Almost an hour passed, and no other golfers had shown up. Thomas began thinking somebody may have pulled some sort of prank when he found an official and asked what was going on.
"My dad thought the shotgun started at 7 [a.m.], but it started at 8," Thomas said. "It was a little rookie mistake right there."
His next big-time appearance could come at the Masters, though not as a competitor. Thomas said he may get to caddie for friend and 2009 U.S. Amateur champ Byeong-Hun An at the famed Wednesday par-3 contest.
In any capacity, Thomas wants another taste of the TOUR. Put the Titleist van on notice.
"That one tournament made me realize how awesome it was," Thomas said. "I really would like to get back out there."
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