Justin Thomas and Leeds investors tee off with Masters interest
justin thomas is back in focus as Leeds United investors Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas head into Masters action at Augusta National Golf Course on Thursday afternoon ET. Leeds chiefs may be watching closely because both men are part of the club’s investor group following the 49ers Enterprises takeover in 2023. The pair are among the sport’s best-known names, and both arrive at Augusta carrying major-tournament pedigree and long odds.
Justin Thomas enters Augusta as a long shot
The opening round begins Thursday afternoon ET in the tournament’s 90th edition, with Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy the defending champion. Justin Thomas is listed among the outsiders for the event, while Spieth is also viewed as a relative long shot in the betting market. The field includes a huge group of players chasing a prize pot likely worth over £3 million.
Spieth, 32, is a three-time major winner, a former world No. 1 and a Masters champion from 2015. Justin Thomas, also 32, has twice won the PGA Championship and has previously been ranked world No. 1. The context around both players is unusually broad this week: they are not only competing in golf’s biggest spring stage, but also remain part of Leeds United’s growing list of famous sports investor names.
Justin Thomas, Spieth and the Leeds connection
The connection to Leeds United has been low-key. Neither Spieth nor Justin Thomas has been especially vocal about the investment, but Spieth did speak publicly after their involvement was confirmed in 2023. He said they viewed it as a cool opportunity because Leeds is a big city, the club is historic, and Elland Road is a great venue. He also said he was excited to have a team he is emotionally invested in and hoped Leeds would be back very soon.
Leeds did return two years later, winning last season’s Championship title with 100 points. Following that triumph, Justin Thomas was asked at The Open in July about plans to get to Elland Road, and he said he would like to go to a game. He added that teammates had been giving him a hard time about the club’s Premier League return.
Odds, tee times and immediate expectations
The betting picture places both investors well behind the leading names. Spieth is a joint 15th favorite, while Justin Thomas is down in joint 30th. Both are former world No. 1 players, so a strong opening day or two could quickly change the tone around their chances.
On Thursday, Spieth tees off at 6: 20 p. m. UK time alongside Brooks Koepka and Justin Rose, while Justin Thomas follows at 6: 32 p. m. with Ben Griffin and Sepp Straka. That late-day slot means their opening charges will unfold under pressure and, for viewers in the United States, deep into the afternoon ET window.
What happens next at Augusta
The early rounds will set the tone for both men’s Masters week, and their standing in the market could shift fast if either finds rhythm early. For Leeds supporters, the angle is simple: two investor names are now tied to one of golf’s most watched tournaments, and Justin Thomas remains part of a story that spans Augusta and Elland Road at the same time.
