September 28, 2025. The final day of the Ryder Cup was the last day Justin Thomas played competitive golf before taking a five-month break for surgery on a herniated disc. But now, with the two-time major champion finally set to return at the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational, a video has gone viral that shows his signature swing already turning up the heat.
The PGA Tour posted a video of JT’s grueling practice session at the Bay Hill course wearing a purple polo shirt and shorts. Thomas was seen standing in front of a large pile of golf balls and practicing his mid-irons using a launch monitor. Now, that’s a very positive thing for the fans.
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Throughout the 2025 season, Thomas continued to quietly battle what he called “nagging hip pain.” This hidden struggle hurt his power and caused him to miss the PGA Championship and the U.S. Open. Finishing the US Open in 12 overs was a heartbreaking sign that his body wasn’t functioning properly. However, despite the pain, he broke a three-year winless streak at the RBC Heritage in April. That win and several other top-10 finishes led to him taking time off and not competing in the fall.
A post-Ryder Cup MRI revealed that the pain in his hip was actually a torn disc, requiring surgery. On November 13, 2025, Thomas underwent a microscopic discectomy. He was then placed under strict ‘BLT’ restrictions (no bending, lifting or twisting) for several weeks and missed the start of the 2026 season while he healed.
In between his hospital bed and return to the tee box, the 32-year-old occasionally shared updates on his health. The early years were nothing for him and unimaginably boring, but over time the injury healed. And he shared a clip of himself working with a resistance band and gradually transitioning into chipping and putting around January. In mid-February, permission was finally granted to resume golf in earnest.
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And before returning to the PGA Tour, Thomas tested his back at the TGL, where he helped his team, Atlanta Drive GC, win a match against Rory McIlroy’s Boston team. And now his return has already been confirmed, and his effortless power is surprising fans: Is this the guy who just had surgery?
Fans are surprised at JT’s easy return to the big stage after surgery
Golf fans who follow professional golf, not just fans of Justin Thomas, felt a great sense of relief that JT was back on the green considering the severity of his injury, with one fan saying, “JT at Bay Hill after surgery is the comeback energy we all need heading into the spring golf season. Welcome back 💪.”
“Comeback Energy” is the momentum JT is bringing with his return as the season builds toward the Masters. A similar thing happened last season when Will Zalatoris returned from back issues and gave API the “spring energy” they needed on tour.
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We also include some crucial facts that show why fans are so confident in this big debut. Thomas has competed in four previous Arnold Palmer Invitational tournaments, making the cut in every one and achieving a career-best T12 finish in 2024. Last time his Strokes Gained: Approach Index was also the best in this area.
July 18, 2018, Carnoustie Golf Links, Angus, Scotland. 147th Open Golf Championship, practice day. Justin Thomas (USA) Jimmy Walker (USA) Tracking the flight of the driver shot on the 4th hole PUBLICATIONxINxGERxSUIxAUTxHUNxSWExNORxDENxFINxONLY ActionPlus12048554 DavidxBlunsden
That’s why one confident fan who believes JT could repeat this season said, “There’s no better place to make a season debut! JT has never lost a stroke from tee to green at Bay Hill, so with a strong week for putting, we could see his name return to the top of the leaderboard.”
Another fan echoed the same sentiment, adding, “The game was good.”
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However, many of his fans are just happy to see him healthy and able to overcome such a difficult period. They simply said, “Great to see Justin Thomas back on the track!”
Thomas has been out of action for more than 150 days, and despite the early excitement, there may still be some bumps in the road ahead for him. Golf Insider’s Ryan Ravner warns that back injuries can be very tricky, likening this to: XanderMr. Schauffele Returned from last season. And JT himself knows he might be a little rusty after being away from tournaments for five months.
“Look, I obviously want to play well next week and I want to, but I also understand that I’m not expecting great things because it’s the first time I’ve played in a competitive tournament in almost five or six months. But at least everyone else is going to be struggling with me at Bay Hill. So I hope that makes me feel a little bit better,” he said.
As it turns out, this video wasn’t just about a grueling practice session, it served as a reminder of Justin Thomas’ relentless work ethic. And if fans are all saying the same thing, it’s that this version of JT looks trapped and ready to make some noise.
