What it’s like to battle Justin Thomas in a money game — and win

At the beginning of this week’s episode of Subpar, co-host Colt Knost credited the show’s guest, former Korn Ferry Tour player Josh Broadaway, with helping Knost land his current gig as both a radio and podcast host and CBS on-course reporter.

“I get rather excited for these, but this is a whole ‘nother level right now,” Knost said. “I cannot wait to dive into this. You and I have had some times over the years. It’s kind of scary to say you might be the reason I’m sitting here right now, because you took me under your wing right when I turned pro, and look what happened.”

“Come on, you can’t do that right outta that gate. I figured you were gonna to warm up to that!” Broadaway exclaimed.

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Needless to say, the interview didn’t disappoint. Broadaway covered numerous topics with Knost and his co-host Drew Stoltz, but one of the most entertaining segments was when Broadaway told the story of what it was like to team up with Knost against Justin Thomas and John Mallinger — and win.

According to Broadaway, he ran into Knost at a casino, and Knost invited him to play a match the next day. Though Broadaway repeatedly asked who they were playing, Knost never gave him an answer. At the course the next day, Broadaway eventually deduced that Mallinger was involved, but he couldn’t figure out who the fourth person might be.

“We go to the tee, and this little squirt comes walkin’ up there, 140 pounds soaking wet, with his Alabama logo on his bag. Mister Justin Thomas,” Broadaway said.

Broadaway said Thomas immediately impressed with his length off the tee and his short game, while Broadaway’s game was not in top shape.

“I rode my man [Knost] here like Seabiscuit that day,” he said. “I played like a goat. I think I made like two birdies all day on holes, par 5s, like, everybody made birdie.”

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Meanwhile, Broadaway said Knost was keeping them in the game. By the 18th hole, Broadaway said the two were up about $300, but playing for $700. While Broadaway and Knost faced lengthy birdie putts, Thomas stuck his approach to a few feet. Defeat looked inevitable for Knost and Broadaway.

But then, incredibly, Broadaway sank his putt. When Knost narrowly missed his, Thomas had a chance to tie with his short putt. Broadaway said Knost pulled out all the stops to distract him, taunting him about being an All-American.

“JT’s kinda giggling, shakes it off, and buries it right in the middle,” Broadaway said. “But that was my claim to fame: We beat [Mallinger] and JT out of 300 bucks.”

For more from Broadaway, including the details of his cross-handed swing, check out the full interview below.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of female varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everyone on the masthead. She can out-hustle them in the office, too, where she’s primarily responsible for producing both print and online features, and overseeing major special projects, such as GOLF’s inaugural Style Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview series, “A Round With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in both in the magazine and in video form on GOLF.com.

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