Justin Thomas made surprising revelation to Amanda Balionis minutes after RBC Heritage win

Justin Thomas revealed to Amanda Balionis that he had never made such a long putt to win a tournament after his triumph at the RBC Heritage Classic. With his caddie Matt 'Rev' Minister sidelined with a back injury, Thomas, 31, teamed up with Joe Greiner just before the Masters.

Greiner, who had recently parted ways with Max Homa after a period of poor results, quickly found success in his new partnership. In only their second tournament together, Thomas clinched victory in Hilton Head, South Carolina, ending a winless streak that stretched back to the 2022 PGA Championship. It was a huge boost for Thomas, who could only muster a tied 36th placed finish at the Masters, ending the major two over par. But amid his improved display last week, Thomas didn't hesitate to praise his new caddie after nailing a crucial putt to edge out Andrew Novak in a playoff, while he also made a surprising revelation to CBS golf reporter Balionis.

Shortly after his victory he told her: "I said to Joe coming up to 18, 'I've never made a putt to win a tournament before like of this length'. I've been fortunate to have a lot of tap-ins but I've never made a putt and that was pretty cool. That was as fun as I thought it would be."

The triumph wasn't straightforward for Thomas. He tied the course record with a 61 on Thursday but followed up with consecutive 69s over the next two days, allowing competitors to close the gap.

His challenge was further complicated on Saturday when he incurred a one-stroke penalty for moving the ball prematurely, despite consulting an official for clarification. However, it appears the new caddie made a difference. 

Thomas couldn't hold back his praise for Greiner, telling journalists: "It's great. We've had a lot of fun. I have always thought caddies are in a tough spot already and kind of like a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation, let alone when it's the second week he's ever caddied for me.

"He knows I'm playing well, and he knows that I feel the same way. So he's wanting to help but also trying to not over caddie, and it's tough.

"But he's doing a great job. It's more fun than anything just because he's got a great personality and sense of humour where I can make fun of him."

Homa and Greiner celebrated six PGA Tour victories during their decade-long partnership. Nevertheless, Greiner chose to leave before the Masters, despite their strong bond. Looking back on their time together, Homa said: "Joe and I made memories for a lifetime and can't be more thankful for all the hard work. We have parted ways and it will be sad to see him go."

Homa is on a quest to break his winless spell. The 34-year-old golfer hasn't tasted victory on the PGA Tour since the Farmers Insurance Open in January 2023 and had dropped to No.81 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) earlier this year. He now sits at No.69.