Justin Thomas does not have his usual caddie with him at Augusta National this week.
While the No. 8 ranked golfer in the world has been doing quite well with Matt "Rev" Minister this season, Thomas instead is working with Joe Greiner this week — the longtime caddie of Max Homa, who split with his childhood friend just before The Masters.
Minister just happened to suffer a back injury before Augusta and wouldn't have been much help to Thomas this week. So JT asked Greiner to join his bag in the interim. That's no handout, either. Greiner knows this course well and was on Homa's bag last year when he finished T3.
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According to Homa, it was a tough but necessary change after missing the cut in his last five events.
“We always had a deal that we’re friends first and friendship mattered more than the work thing,“ Homa said of his his six years with Greiner on the bag. "It’s hard. I’m just so used to him caddieing. And even just on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesdays, you just have this easy rhythm. But I was happy that he did it, because I would rather – you know, at the end of my days we continue to be great friends than one of us resent the other for how hard this game can be on a relationship."
Homa, with new caddie Bill Harke, started off with two birdies in his first three holes on Thursday and is making a play for the top of the leaderboard. Thomas was one-over-par through 11 holes with some fantastic par saves.
Hopefully the change works out for everyone this week and results in some competitive golf from the best players in the world.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why Justin Thomas made a late switch to Max Homa's former caddie for The Masters
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