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Photos: Justin Thomas' transformation from amateur star to major champion

Adam Woodard
USA TODAY Sports
April 29, 2024, 5:00 p.m. ET
Justin Thomas pumps his fist at No. 17 during Saturday's single matches of the 2013 Walker Cup at National Golf Links of America in Southampton, N.Y.

Justin Thomas has seen it all in his journey through golf.

The Kentucky native's rise to PGA Tour stardom began in August 2009 when he became the third-youngest player to make a cut on Tour at the Wyndham Championship at 16 years, 3 months and 24 days. He went on to play collegiately at Alabama, where he won six times and was a key member of the Crimson Tide's 2013 national championship-winning team.

Thomas was named PGA Tour Player of the Year in 2017 and claimed theFedEx Cup title thanks to five wins, including his first major victory at the PGA Championship. He won it again in 2022.

Here's a look at JT through the years:

Justin Thomas of the United States celebrates with the trophy on the 18th green after winning during the final round of the SBS Tournament of Champions at the Plantation Course at Kapalua Golf Club on January 8, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Team USA golfer Justin Thomas celebrates making his putt on the 15th hole during the singles match play of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo: Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports)
Justin Thomas holds the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2022 PGA Championship. (Photo: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports)
Justin Thomas poses for photos after winning the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational golf tournament at Firestone Country Club - South Course. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Thomas of the United States celebrates with the trophy after winning during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 14, 2021 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
Team USA's Justin Thomas celebrates after the United States beat Europe during day three singles rounds for the 43rd Ryder Cup golf competition at Whistling Straits. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Thomas defended his title and won the CIMB Classic in 2016 at TPC Kuala Lumpur on October 23, 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo: Stanley Chou/Getty Images)
Justin Thomas accepts the trophy after winning the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational at TPC Southwind on Sunday with a final score of 13 under.
Justin Thomas and his dad Mike at the 2020 PNC Championship in Orlando. (Photo: Adam Schupak/Golfweek)
Photo by Stanley Chou/Getty Images
Justin Thomas talks to on course reporter Amanda Balionis during a practice round for The Match: Champions For Charity at Medalist Golf Club on May 23, 2020 in Hobe Sound, Florida. (Photo: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
Justin Thomas celebrates with the winner's trophy after the final round of the Sentry Tournament Of Champions at the Kapalua Plantation Course on January 05, 2020 in Kapalua, Hawaii. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Playing Captain Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas celebrate defeating Byeong-Hun An and Hideki Matsuyama on the 18th green during Friday foursome matches on day two of the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Course on December 13, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images)
Playing Captain Tiger Woods and Justin Thomas stand on the sixth hole during Thursday four-ball matches on day one of the 2019 Presidents Cup at Royal Melbourne Golf Course on December 12, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Justin Thomas kisses the trophy after winning the tournament during the final round of the CJ Cup @Nine Bridges at the Club at Nine Bridges on October 20, 2019 in Jeju, South Korea. Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images
Justin Thomas reacts to missing his putt on the 18th hole during the first round of the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club. (Photo: Butch Dill-USA TODAY Sports)
Justin Thomas sprays sunscreen on himself on the 4th tee during the second round of The Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club. Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Thomas of the United States celebrates chipping in on the 12th during singles matches of the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National on September 30, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Justin Thomas celebrates after making his putt on the 13th hole during the morning fourball matches of the 2018 Ryder Cup at Le Golf National on September 29, 2018 in Paris, France. (Photo: Darren Carroll/Getty Images)
Thomas celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club. Mandatory Credit: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Thomas loses control of his club as he tees off on number 8 playing against Kyle Stanley during the fifth round of the WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play at Austin Country Club. (Photo: Erich Schlegel-USA TODAY Sports)
Justin Thomas holds the trophy after winning the CJ Cup at Nine Bridges on October 22, 2017 in Jeju, South Korea. Photo by Matt Roberts/Getty Images
Justin Thomas tees off on the first hole during the final round singles matches of The President's Cup golf tournament at Liberty National Golf Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Justin Thomas of the U.S. Team makes a shot from a bunker on the 14th hole during Friday four-ball matches of the Presidents Cup at Liberty National Golf Club on September 29, 2017 in Jersey City, New Jersey. (Photo: Elsa/Getty Images)
Justin Thomas celebrates with the trophy on the 18th green after winning the FedExCup and finishing second in the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club on September 24, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Justin Thomas, 2017 Dell Technologies Championship
Justin Thomas poses with the Wanamaker Trophy after winning the 2017 PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club on August 13, 2017 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo: Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
Justin Thomas, 2017 Sony Open
Justin Thomas shot a 59 at the Sony Open in Hawaii as part of back-to-back wins in 2017. (Getty images)
Sixteen-year-old Justin Thomas won the 2010 Terra Cotta Invitational.
Justin Thomas said a year spent on the Web.com Tour helped prepare him for the demands of professional golf.
Justin Thomas during the semifinals of the 112th U. S. Amateur Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado in 2012.
Justin Thomas signs with Alabama.
Justin Thomas and Denny McCarthy during the semifinals of the Boys Junior.

Justin Thomas 2010

Justin Thomas 2010 Junior Boys

Justin Thomas 2011 Alabama

Justin Thomas 2012 U.S. Amateur

Justin Thomas 2013 Walker Cup

Justin Tomas 2014 Web.com Tour

Justin Thomas 2015 CIMB Classic

Justin Thomas 2016 CIMB Classic

Justin Thomas Andre Iguodala 2016 Safeway Open

Justin Thomas 2017 Sony Open In Hawaii

Justin Thomas 2017 PGA Championship

Justin Thomas 2017 Tour Championship

Justin Thomas 2017 Presidents Cup

Justin Thomas 2018 WGC - Dell Technologies Match Play

Justin Thomas 2018 Ryder Cup

Justin Thomas 2019 Masters

Justin Thomas 2019 Tour Championship

Justin Thomas Tiger Woods 2019 Presidents Cup

Justin Thomas 2020 The Match: Champions For Charity

Justin Thomas 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational

Justin Thomas Mike Thomas 2020 PNC Championship

2016 CIMB Classic Golf - Day 4

SBS Tournament of Champions - Final Round

Sony Open In Hawaii - Final Round

Dell Technologies Championship - Final Round

PGA: PGA Championship - Final Round

PGA: The Presidents Cup-Day Four

The CJ Cup - Final Round

Justin Thomas

PGA: WGC - Bridgestone Invitational - Final Round

2018 Ryder Cup - Singles Matches

PGA: BMW Championship - Final Round

2019 Presidents Cup - Day 1

Sentry Tournament Of Champions Justin Thomas

Justin Thomas

SPON-CON Image: The PLAYERS Championship - Final Round

Ryder Cup 2021

2022 PGA Championship

2022 Presidents Cup

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