Justin Thomas had not won a PGA TOUR event with a long putt before. On Sunday, he broke his losing streak. He made a 21-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole. That helped him win the RBC Heritage. His last win was in 2022.
“Been fortunate to have a bunch of tap-ins, but I’ve never made a putt (of length), and that was pretty cool,” Thomas said afterward. “That was as fun as I thought it would be.”
Justin Thomas is putting much better in 2025. So it makes sense that he won with a big putt at Harbour Town Golf Links. He is now ranked No. 24 in putting this season. That’s a big jump from No. 174 in 2024 and No. 135 in 2021. It’s hard to win on the PGA TOUR without good putting. But even during his losing streak, his ball-striking stayed strong.
Let’s talk about Xander Schauffele. Last fall, he spent 2–3 hours with Justin Thomas on a practice green. He asked Thomas many questions about putting. These questions made Thomas think differently. Schauffele acted more like a putting helper than a coach. He wasn’t really teaching Thomas how to putt.
Thomas really connected with Schauffele’s questions. He realized he hadn’t spent enough time working on the basics of good putting. He was trying too many different things. At his winner’s press conference on Hilton Head Island, Thomas was asked why his putting had improved. He quickly started talking about Schauffele. They are both two-time major winners and teammates on the U.S. Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams.
According to Thomas, he gave Xander a call at the end of the previous year. He believes that Xander excels at the fundamentals of golf and putting. “Can I talk to you about putting for a few hours?” Thomas asked. Xander arrived to assist. He bombarded Thomas with enquiries. “Xander checks everything,” Thomas said. “I’ve probably tried it if it can help you improve your golf game,” Xander said to him.
Thomas claimed to have discussed putting with Xander. They talked about how Xander sees things, practices, and reads greens. It helped just to be with Xander. Thomas realised, “I used to do that,” as Xander probed. Xander offered advice, such as the use of a string line. Thomas noticed that he had stopped doing the things that used to help him putt well. In 2017–18, Thomas had a well-defined schedule. He had good habits and a solid foundation. Later on, though, he lost that habit. He started acting haphazardly. He wants to return to the fundamentals that used to work for him.
Thomas claimed that Xander helped him alot. However, Xander’s questions were the ones that had the most impact. Thomas became aware that he was attempting too many things and trying too hard. He discovered that it’s a skill to continue doing what you’re already skilled at without making significant changes. Thomas now stays true to his foundations. To stay on course, he performs the same procedures and checks.
The process has been validated by the outcomes. With a gain of about 5.5 strokes on the field over the course of the week, Thomas finished third in SG: Putting at the RBC Heritage and is on pace to have the best putting season of his ten-year PGA TOUR career.
It might be trouble for others if Thomas is reviving the putting skills he possessed in his early professional days. In both 2017 and 2018, he won seven times and placed in the top 50 on the TOUR in SG: Putting. He finished at No. 174 in 2024. But unfortunately, he hasn’t been in the top 80 for a full season since.
Schauffele was aware of the potential consequences of an improved Thomas on the greens. Even though it might have been at his own risk, he chose to assist. Thomas remarked, “I think once I got to putting and the putting green, I turned into way too mechanical and robotic, and that’s not me. I’m very artistic and feel-based in all my game.”
“I’m better off when I hit a putt that I obviously want to make in a professional, but I’m not grinding on reading and thinking about all these different things,” I say. This is known as “pro-am putting.” I’m essentially stepping up, trying it out, and estimating how frequently I make putts. Mentally, it was most likely higher here than it was elsewhere. That message became clear to Thomas after spending a few hours with Schauffele, and it may lead to passionate arguments between the two for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
At the RBC Heritage, how much did Justin Thomas win?
Justin Thomas’s victory at the 2025 RBC Heritage earned him $3.6 million.
Today’s PGA winner?
There isn’t a PGA tournament going on as of today, April 22, 2025. The Zurich Classic of New Orleans, which takes place from April 24 to April 27, 2025, is the next PGA event.
What is the prize money for the RBC Heritage winner?
$3.6 million is awarded to the RBC Heritage winner.
What was Justin Thomas’s winnings?
At the 2025 RBC Heritage, Justin Thomas took home $3.6 million.
Who was the 2025 RBC Heritage winner?
The 2025 RBC Heritage was won by Justin Thomas. On the opening playoff hole, he made a 21-foot birdie putt to seal the victory, defeating
