Mini-tour player qualifies for Valspar last year on Monday. Viral video goes out from PGA showing him calling his dad to tell him he qualified, and breaking down while doing so. JT saw the video, met him during the tournament, and was inspired to help Big Mike.
"I just felt it was so refreshing and great to see and how genuine his excitement and emotions were,'' Thomas said at Muirfield Village Golf Club. "I don't know Mike. I met him at Valspar. I just went up and said congrats on getting in. It's a great story. I just thought it was awesome because he's been playing the mini-tours for a long time and people now knew who he was because of his story.
"For some reason it hit home to me, and it just was like, this is a dude who's been grinding for a long time and there's a lot of people that are doing that. But I just wanted to help in a little way, and what I'm most happy about is the recognition he has got.''
Neither Thomas nor Visacki would disclose the amount, but Visacki, reached by phone Wednesday, said "it takes a little pressure off me, let's put it like that. I can go out and focus on golf and not worry about some of my bills or other things like that. I can play my game and not put pressure on myself.
"I had no idea what he was going to do. I just thought we were having a normal conversation. I am very grateful for what he did for me.''