\n<\/p>\n
Thomas and good friend Jordan Spieth became investors last summer after being converted into Leeds fans by English golfer Matt Fitzpatrick’s caddie Billy Foster.<\/p>\n
“We’ve definitely become a lot closer over the last year, and he’s given us a lot of insight and knowledge in terms of Leeds and sending us videos from games,” said Thomas.<\/p>\n
“I like the fact that they’re playing at Elland Road. I know that they’re a tough team to beat there, so I’m excited to watch.”<\/p>\n
Leeds, who have failed to gain promotion from all five of their previous play-off attempts, drew the first leg 0-0 at Carrow Road. <\/p>\n
The winner will face West Bromwich Albion or Southampton at Wembley for a place in the Premier League.<\/p>\n
Thomas was at Valhalla as a seven-year-old fan when Tiger Woods won the US PGA in 2000. He had turned professional by the time it returned in 2014, but missed out on qualification.<\/p>\n
“Watching Tiger here in 2000 in person is a large part of my love for professional golf and wanting to win majors and golf tournaments,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I obviously don’t remember a lot, being seven years old. But just hearing the roars – you’re on one side of the course, you hear it on another side of the course – that’s pretty cool to hear.<\/p>\n
“How it all ended and me being a Tiger fan, it was about as perfect a week as I could have imagined.”<\/p>\n
To have a perfect week this week for himself, Thomas will need to find the form that lifted him to the 2022 US PGA title at Southern Hills. <\/p>\n
He was ranked fifth in the world after his second major triumph but is now 31st and enduring another inconsistent season on the PGA Tour with three top-10s in 2024 offset by three missed cuts in his past seven events.<\/p>\n
In seven majors since his victory, Thomas has missed four cuts and failed to finish inside the top 35 in the other three.<\/p>\n
He can expect huge home support, though.<\/p>\n
“I played nine holes with him [on Monday],\u201d said Ryder Cup team-mate Spieth, who has won The Open, US Open and Masters and is aiming to beome the sixth player to complete a career Grand Slam.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt felt different. There was a massive amount of support for him already, and I know that will continue as the week goes on.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there’s one tournament this year that he would want to win, it would be this one, and it would be one of the coolest moments of his life.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n