It’s been nearly three years since Justin Thomas last won a tournament. Fans are hopeful he’ll lift another trophy soon, but when that moment comes, someone very special won’t be there to see it. Thomas recently lost his grandmother, Phyllis Thomas, a woman who played a big role in his life. A few weeks after her passing, he opened up about the loss, sharing a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.

On what would have been her birthday, Thomas posted a series of pictures with his grandmother, writing: “About 4 weeks ago we lost one of the best people I’ve ever been around. My grandma brought so much joy and positivity to everyone she was around. Today would have been her birthday. While my family and I will forever miss her, I’m happy she gets to be back together again with my grandpa. I’m so happy she got to meet and spend some time with our daughter Molly back in December. Happy bday grandma, I and so many of us are lucky to have the memories with you that we did ❤️ “

The post was filled with love, gratitude, and a sense of loss that many can relate to. Phyllis wasn’t just a spectator in Justin’s life—she was part of the journey. Back in 2018, Thomas talked about their close relationship, recalling how they used to joke around when he was a kid.

“She’s a beauty. We used to get in trouble all the time when I was a kid because we’d just pester each other. She’d get me in trouble because she was like a little dog, she’d get me all riled up, then I’d poke her or something like that and then I’d get in trouble,”  he shared.

More than anything, she brought joy. “She’s very charismatic, she’s always happy. Hopefully, I got a little bit of that from her.”

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She was there for his greatest wins

Phyllis was in the crowd when Thomas won the PGA Championship in 2017. That moment hit him hard, knowing his grandparents were there to witness it. “I just got a huge knot in my throat and had to put my head down. I’ve never felt like that on the course before,” JT said. You never know if they’ll see you win again, so it was pretty cool to get it done.”

Losing a loved one is never easy, and for Thomas, this is a loss that will stay with him. But her influence—her humor, her warmth, her unwavering support—will always be a part of him. And we send our condolences to Thomas and his family. As far as his next tournament win is concerned, there’s no doubt his grandmother will be watching, just from a different place.