DUBLIN, Ohio – Michael Visacki – Big Mike to his friends – became the star of the feel-good story of the year when he Monday qualified for the Valspar Championship earlier this year by making a 25-footer on the last hole. The video of the journeyman golfer breaking down as he told his father over the phone of his longshot success in earning his first PGA Tour start going viral on social media.
Justin Thomas then took the story up a notch.
The world No. 2 was moved by the emotional outburst and the unrelenting pursuit of a dream to play on the PGA Tour from the man of 27 years who has played 30-to-45 mini-tour events each of the past six years, who has racked up 170,000 miles on his 2010 Honda Accord driving the backroads of professional golf, who knows how to pinch every penny and stretch every dollar.
Thomas met Visacki at the Valspar Championship (Visacki missed the cut) and then reached out with an invitation to play a practice round with him at last week’s Charles Schwab Challenge, where Visacki was playing on a sponsor’s invitation, one that was extended by Charles Schwab himself.
Unfortunately, the schedule practice round on Tuesday was rained out. While Visacki missed the cut at Colonial, Thomas made the week special. While Thomas was certainly not looking for publicity, a video of him giving Visacki a check for an undisclosed amount on Friday was captured on video, which then went viral.
@RickRunGood This was an incredible moment. JT is World Class on and off the course. Big Mike, Pappa Mike and caddie Skinny Mike are so deserving and are in a class of their own. Best of Luck Big Mike. pic.twitter.com/2kw2kpFbrh
— Gilbert Little (@GilbertLittle1) May 31, 2021
“In a day and age where it seems like anything in the media is negative and not good these days, I just felt it was so refreshing and great to see and how genuine his excitement and emotions were,” Thomas said Wednesday ahead of the Memorial Tournament. “I just thought it was awesome because he’s been playing the mini tours for a long time and people now knew who he was because of his story. For some reason it hit home to me and it just was like, man, you know, this is a dude who’s been grinding for a long time and there’s a lot of people, not just him, that are doing that, but I just wanted to help in a little way and what I’m most happy about is the recognition he has got.”
Thomas said the amount written on the check wasn’t anything crazy but knows every little bit can go a long way.
“I just wanted to help. I don’t care if it’s a $1,000. That’s extremely helpful for someone who is in that position and that’s what I wanted to do,” Thomas said. “I wanted to be just, like, hey, man, I know Q-School’s expensive, I know playing in these events are expensive, and like any little way I can help out, I want to.”
Justin Thomas reacts after his shot on the 1st hole during the second round of the Valspar Championship golf tournament. Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Visacki’s father, also named Mike, told Golfweek that when Thomas approached the two after his son missed the cut, they were expecting to just take a picture with him. Thomas, however, slipped Visacki the check and they exchanged a few words.
“I’m not going to say (how big the check was), but it was so much that my legs almost gave out. I almost fell over,” the elder Visacki said. “What he did for my son I will never forget. I will take it to my grave.”
Thomas also wanted to do more than just give Visacki money.
“I just was like, ‘Hey, dude, if you ever want advice, if you ever want to pick my brain, you ever just want to talk, like, I’m here for you. I’m happy to help,’” Thomas said. “I felt joy out of seeing his joy and it just kind of totally made me forget about what’s going on in my golfing life. We’re all out here to try to win a lot of golf tournaments but changing people’s lives and helping people who are less fortunate than you are is more important than that.”
As for his golfing life, Thomas is looking for a bit of help, if you will, to turn his recent form around. The Players champion hasn’t contended in his past three starts, which included a missed cut in the PGA Championship.
“To be honest, the state of my game is not great,” Thomas said. “I think my play recently has shown that. I’ve been struggling a little bit with my swing and I haven’t been near as consistent as I have been in the past, but I feel like I’m not as far off as the results show and then there’s some days where I feel really far off.
“Just kind of need a little spark and just kind of get something going.”
His benevolence to a man chasing his dream at least puts karma on his side.
Adam Schupak contributed to this story.
from Golfweek https://ift.tt/3cd4cbv