Warning: Video contains coarse language
Justin Thomas apologized for using a homophobic slur following a missed putt in Round 3 of the Tournament of Champions on Saturday.
"It's inexcusable. I, first off, I just apologize," Thomas said. "I mean, there's no excuse. I'm an adult. I'm a grown man, there's absolutely no reason for me to say anything like that."
Thomas missed a par effort on No. 4 and, while tapping in his bogey, said "f-----," which could be heard on the Golf Channel broadcast.
"It's terrible," Thomas added. "I mean, I'm extremely embarrassed, it's not who I am, it's not the kind of person that I am or anything that I do, but it's, unfortunately, I did it and I have to own up to it and I'm very apologetic."
Thomas said he didn't realize he used the slur until after the round.
"I'm speechless ... I found out when I got done on the golf course or when I got done with my round," he said. "I mean, it's bad. There's no other way to put it.
"I need to do better, I need to be better, it's definitely a learning experience, but, yeah, I just, I deeply apologize to everybody and anybody who I offended and I'll be better because of it."
Thomas isn't the first PGA Tour pro to be heard during a broadcast using a homophobic slur. Patrick Reed did the same in 2014, and Scott Piercy made an anti-gay post to his Instagram in March 2020. All five of Piercy's sponsors dropped him shortly thereafter.
The PGA Tour has yet to comment about Thomas' actions.