Justin Thomas intends to go by way of a person training program to “grow to be a greater particular person” after he was picked up uttering a homophobic slur underneath his breath when he missed a putt at a event in Hawaii this month.
Clothing model Ralph Lauren ended its long-time sponsorship with Thomas following the incident two weeks in the past, which the No. 3-ranked American golfer described as “humiliating and embarrassing and it’s not me.”
Thomas has spoken to his different sponsors — Titleist, FootJoy and world financial institution Citi are amongst these listed on his official web site — and hopes they are going to stand by him as he appears to educate himself and restore his status.
“It’s not a phrase I take advantage of,” Thomas mentioned Wednesday, referring to the slur he blurted out when lacking a 5-foot par putt on the fourth gap of Sentry Tournament of Champions, “however for some purpose it was in there and that’s what I’m making an attempt to work out — why it was in there.
“And like I mentioned, it’s going to be a part of this course of and training program, no matter I would like to do, not solely to show to myself however to show to my sponsors and show to the individuals who don’t know who I’m that that’s certainly not the particular person I’m.”
Ralph Lauren, which has sponsored Thomas since he turned professional, mentioned it was “disheartened” by his language and made its choice to finish its affiliation with the participant due to the duty it has to its stakeholders.
Speaking from the Abu Dhabi Championship, the place he will likely be taking part in this week in a uncommon look on the European Tour, Thomas mentioned he was upset however revered Ralph Lauren’s choice.
“I spoke with them, together with all my sponsors, and though I apologized, similar to it was then it’s a chance for me to develop and I felt prefer it was one thing we may have achieved collectively and gone by way of that course of,” he mentioned. “They simply felt like they wanted to transfer on in order that’s precisely what I’m doing as effectively.
“I wasn’t disenchanted,” Thomas added, “as a result of I put them in a horrible place. I used to be simply extra upset. I had a fantastic relationship with lots of people there and like I mentioned we had the chance to do all of it collectively.”
Pushed on the training program he intends to observe, Thomas mentioned he can be holding it “at a private stage.”
“Obviously individuals are going to be part of that course of,” he mentioned. “But what I’m doing I’d like to maintain internally and simply go by way of the suitable steps to get the place I would like to be and wish to be, so individuals perceive that’s not the particular person I’m, the character I like to painting.”
The Abu Dhabi Championship begins Thursday and is Thomas’ first occasion because the incident in Kapalua. He will likely be taking part in within the event for the primary time in what will likely be solely his fourth begin in a daily European Tour occasion.
Rory McIlroy will play in the identical group as Thomas for the primary two rounds at Abu Dhabi Golf Club, and doesn’t count on the difficulty to have an effect on the American’s sport
“He possibly received’t be as ignorant to offend individuals — clearly what he mentioned was offensive to a big portion of the inhabitants,” McIlroy mentioned. “He’ll be higher for it, he’ll study, he’ll transfer on and he’ll be simply nearly as good a golfer as he’s at all times been.
“And, if something, it’ll make him a greater particular person than he already is, which is tough as a result of he’s already a fantastic man.”
