CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Justin Thomas might give up one of his Wanamaker Trophies for a pepperoni or meat lover’s pizza.
“I want a pizza like you cannot imagine,” said Thomas, the reigning PGA Championship winner. “Like I would do some really messed up things for a pizza just doused in ranch.”
That’s because he’s three months into a commitment he’s made to eat a gluten-free diet for one year and to go dairy-free for six months.
“Last year I felt like I had a very odd year. The heat really got to me. I mean, the beginning of the week in Tulsa I was so sick. I mean, I had some kind of just atrocious like sinus infection, like I had no energy, it was terrible. I have no idea how I ended up playing well that week. It was right after Byron Nelson, which was incredibly hot,” Thomas said.
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There were other events in Mexico and after the final round of the Tour Championship in humid Atlanta he threw up in the locker room after the round.
“It seemed like every time it gets hot, I’m so tired at the end of the day, I’m tired when I wake up in the morning,” he said.
So, Thomas decided to do some blood work and food sensitivity tests, and he’s been following a diet prescribed by Dr. Ara Suppiah, chief medical doctor for NBC Sports and Golf Channel. What are some of the foods he’s added to his diet?
“Sometimes I’ll just suck in and get a nice breath of fresh air,” he joked.
It helps that Thomas often shares a house with Jordan Spieth and Rickie Fowler and others and they usually have their own chef, Michael Parker, to fix meals.
“If it’s on the road or if you’re on a vacation, it’s definitely difficult, I have to be that guy that tells the waitress or waiter of what’s going on,” Thomas said. “A lot of steak, chicken, fish, rice, vegetables, I can have most salads, some dressings, just have to be careful of what’s in it.”
Thomas, who celebrated his birthday Saturday, said he wanted to have won 20 times on the PGA Tour before turning the big 3-0, but “settled” for 15. The new diet hasn’t paid quick dividends in the results department: Thomas has slipped to No. 15 in the world and missed the cut at the Masters last month. But the hardcore diet is just further proof that he’s willing to turn over every stone to get the most out of vast abilities on the golf course.
“Three months in and I definitely feel better and I feel like I have more energy when I wake up, my body’s been feeling great, I’ve been moving really well. I’m just one of those guys like if I don’t at least try it,” he said. “I’m hoping it works because it sucks not being able to eat anything good, but if I don’t try it, I won’t know if it works, you know what I’m saying?”
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