Justin Thomas is finally cleared for his return, but the confirmation didn’t come from a PGA Tour press release. Instead, it came from a country music star, Luke Bryan.

 “What’s up, y’all? Luke here, coming at you from Montana. And next week on the 23rd, I’m going to be down in Florida, watching the Atlanta Drive in the TGL match. Justin Thomas, my boy JT, is on our team. And Justin, maybe it’s time. I’ve been watching you practice; maybe it’s time we get you back, baby,” said Atlanta Drive GC investor Luke Bryan.

“You know what, @lukebryan, I think that’s a great idea. See you Monday,” JT wrote, confirming what Bryan had only nudged at.

For Atlanta Drive GC, the timing couldn’t be better. The team is 2-1 through their first three TGL matches without Thomas, with Chris Gotterup stepping in to fill his role. Now they head into their February 24 match against Boston Common sitting atop the standings, but this is precisely the stage where having a two-time major champion available can make a real difference. The calendar makes the decision event smarter.

He expressed that his potential return to the PGA Tour would be during the Florida swing, with many assuming his first event back would be the Cognizant Classic, which begins February 26, 2 days after the TGL match. JT will also hopefully compete in March. After that comes the Masters in April, and the week after, the RBC Heritage, where Thomas will defend his title.

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Thomas had been dealing with nagging hip pain that refused to go away. By late 2025, the symptoms had worsened despite rest, which prompted an MRI. The scan revealed a disc problem in his lower back that required treatment, and in November 2025, Thomas flew to New York to undergo a microdiscectomy.

What followed was a dedicated rehab. Thomas documented his recovery process for his fans, showing his progress from the gym to the driving range. By late January, he was back to hitting wedges and short irons, and on February 11, he confirmed on Instagram he was fully cleared to resume all golf activities, stating it felt great to swing freely again.

His last competitive appearance came at the 2025 Ryder Cup, where he went 2-2-0 for Team USA. Though he has been out of competition since, he wasn’t out of conversation.

What was Justin Thomas up to during his hiatus?

Even while sidelined, Thomas remained deeply engaged with the golf world. His competitive fire was evident when he publicly praised Anthony Kim’s first professional win in 16 years at LIV Golf Adelaide.

“So awesome. Incredible story… Respect @anthonykimofficial,” Thomas wrote.

Outside of competition, he also posted pictures of important career moments and time spent with family. He shared a picture of himself in a tartan jacket celebrating his 2025 RBC Heritage win, his first in more than 1,000 days. Another picture from Bethpage Black showed his role in the Ryder Cup and his leadership of Team USA. He also shared a picture from his hospital room post-surgery, where he was wearing a back brace.

Now, the surgery is behind him, the clearance is done, and his calendar seems to be full. Justin Thomas is officially back.