World No. 1 Justin Thomas talks about his year as the PGA Champion

 ST. LOUIS -- On Monday, Justin Thomas descended on Bellerive Country Club for Media Day ahead of the 100th PGA Championship, to be played August 9-12.

In just the past two years leading up to his trip to St. Louis as the defending PGA Champion, 25-year-old Justin Thomas has authored accomplishments that most dream of attaining over an entire career.
 
Starting in October 2016, when Thomas successfully defended the CIMB Classic in Malaysia, he has done the following:
 
- Racked up six more PGA Tour victories
- At the 2017 Sony Open in Hawaii, he became the seventh player in PGA Tour history to shoot a 59 and the youngest player in history with a sub-60 round
- During the third round of the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills, he tied the U.S. Open single-round record of 63. He eagled the last hole by hitting his 3-wood to 8 feet on the par-5 hole to finish at 9-under par, also a U.S. Open record, passing the previous record -- in relation to par -- held by Johnny Miller at Oakmont Country Club
- Became a major champion with his victory in August 2017 at Quail Hollow in the PGA Championship
- Won the PGA Tour's 2016-17 FedExCup Playoffs
- Became the PGA Tour's 2016-17 Player of the Year
- Earned the No. 1 spot in the Official World Golf Ranking
 
Stout.

And in addition to filling the famed golf ball trophy case his dad — PGA Professional Mike Thomas — keeps, it's led to an impressive mantle display.
 
"I have a mantel in my house right when you walk in, it's like a little fireplace, and (the Wanamaker Trophy) sits right in between the Player of the Year trophy and the FedExCup Trophy."
 
With a tie for 11th at the Players Championship, thanks to a weekend rally after making the cut on the number, Thomas became the 21st player and seventh American to reach No. 1 since the world ranking began in 1986.
 
Life is good. And it's made even better when you can share the big moments with your family.

"I was flying home with my mom and dad, going back to Jupiter," Thomas said. "I think it had officially come out -- I guess DJ had finally finished, and I don't know how these people figure out the projections and everything, but whoever did, said that that's what it's going to be, and then I had my manager reach out to me and then some media people did. But yeah, it was pretty cool to be with my parents when it came out."
  
There's been no slow-down for Thomas in the 2017-18 season. He's already notched two victories -- the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges and the Honda Classic -- to go along with four other top 10s in just 14 starts.
 
His lone missed cut was at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans -- a team event.
 
He traveled to St. Louis on Sunday evening following a tie for eighth at the Memorial in Ohio.
 
It was fitting that Thomas collected his first major win in a PGA, as both his father (Mike) and grandfather (Paul) carved out careers as PGA professionals.
 
"Myself now being the third generation of a PGA member in the Thomas family is pretty cool, so winning this last August had so much special meaning to it."