Thomas: 'Crazy' to see how nervous Brady, Manning were during match
While viewers at home were watching Tom Brady and, at times, Peyton Manning struggle during "The Match: Champions for Charity" on Sunday, Justin Thomas was witnessing their pain firsthand.
The world's No. 4-ranked golfer, who impressed as an on-course reporter during the event, was stunned to see how nervous two of pro sports' most successful athletes looked on a golf course.
"It was so funny to me - I think it was, honestly, underrated - the fact that how nervous Tom and Peyton were," Thomas said on the "No Laying Up" podcast. "They've competed at the biggest stages, in front of so many people, yet you get them out of their comfort zone and how uncomfortable they were to start that round. It was crazy to me."
Of the two quarterbacks, Manning fared better in the showdown he won alongside Tiger Woods. But both Manning and Brady started their rounds by hooking their opening tee shots into the left trees.
Manning quickly settled in, while Brady continued to look lost. The new Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB fought a two-way miss off the tee, even though he never hit driver, and he had a brief battle with the chipping yips.
"They've competed at the highest level, they've won Super Bowls, they've done things that nobody could dream of doing," Thomas continued. "But you get them on a golf course knowing that millions of people are watching, they are not going to be comfortable."
He added, "When I go play with Tom and we go out and play No. 1 at Medalist, he takes a driver out and he hits it all day, and today, he didn't even use a driver. It's crazy, man. But honestly, it speaks to the things that golf can put in your head. These are two of the greatest athletes of all time, let alone in their sport, yet they were not comfortable at all."
Despite his issues, Brady did provide the highlight of the day with a hole-out birdie from over 100 yards. He and Manning then exchanged stellar approach shots into the par-3 16th, both of which were much closer than Tiger's.
Thomas, who admitted to being nervous himself during his first taste of broadcasting, applauded the quarterbacks' turnaround.
"The shots they hit on the back nine after being under pressure and nervous on the front nine, let alone in alternate shot, was unbelievable."
Woods and Manning defeated Phil Mickelson and Brady 1-up in a match that raised $20 million for COVID-19 relief efforts.
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