Justin Thomas apologises after using homophobic slur at Sentry Tournament of Champions
Written by News on 10/01/2021
World number three Justin Thomas has apologised for using a homophobic slur during the third round of the Sentry Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.
Thomas, the defending champion at the $6.7m event, missed a five-foot putt on the fourth hole after which he uttered the slur which was picked up by a television microphone.
“There’s just no excuse,” the 27-year-old American told Golf Channel. “There’s absolutely no reason for me to say anything like that. It’s terrible. It’s not the kind of person that I am.”
“I need to do better. I deeply apologise to anyone and everybody who I offended and I’ll be better because of it.”
The PGA Tour added in a statement: “As he expressed after his round, we agree that Justin’s comment was unacceptable.”
Thomas struggled for accuracy with his driver throughout the round, particularly in a mixed-bag of a front-nine 34 which featured an eagle at the fifth followed by a double-bogey six at the next, where he carved his drive into deep trouble and, despite finding his ball, took an unplayable lie and headed back to the tee.
However, he hit back with birdies at eight and nine and made three more in a promising four-hole stretch on the back nine before three closing pars kept him at 17 under, four strokes off leaders Ryan Palmer and Harris English heading into Sunday’s final round.
Thomas is expected to be fined for conduct unbecoming of a professional, though the PGA Tour does not disclose specifics of such punishment.
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(c) Sky Sports 2021: Justin Thomas apologises after using homophobic slur at Sentry Tournament of Champions
