By Alex Myers
Like many Florida-based PGA Tour pros, Justin Thomas’ FedEx Cup Playoffs off week wound up being more stressful than trying to win a postseason event. The Player of the Year front-runner has experienced a series of firsts this season, but none as scary as a mandatory evacuation due to Hurricane Irma bearing down on his Jupiter home.

“We got very, very lucky,” Thomas said at his Wednesday press conference at the BMW Championship.

“Jupiter — I shouldn’t say we, I mean the State of Florida got hammered and it’s awful the last couple of weeks of what the hurricanes have done and growing up Louisville I never had — never had to deal with anything like this. You just have to deal with the tornado every once in awhile, but even those are usually never anything crazy.”

Thomas said he brought a lot of stuff inside his home ahead of the storm, but he turned to friend Rickie Fowler to stash some of his most prized possessions — including the Wanamaker Trophy he claimed for winning his first major title at last month’s PGA Championship.

“I had some valuables that I actually just took to Rickie’s house down the street because he has a safe that’s kind of — that’s built in the ground and is a little more sturdy than I may have,” Thomas said, “and took the Wanamaker, took some watches and some other valuables and put them in there because I figured at least I have those if everything goes.”

Smart move. And like the song goes, “For good times, and bad times, you can use my safe forever more. That’s what friends are for!” Or. . . something like that.

We’re sure Rickie was happy to hold Thomas’ major trophy even though he’s still searching for his first. But he probably would have preferred JT to keep that info on the down low.

The post Justin Thomas reveals where he smartly stashed his Wanamaker Trophy during Hurricane Irma  appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

By Joel Beall
Ernie Els was supposed to play in this week’s KLM Open, a regular European Tour stop since the circuit’s inaugural season in 1972. However, other priorities have grabbed the Big Easy’s attention. On Monday, Els dropped out of the Dutch event, citing concerns for those impacted by Hurricane Irma.

“It’s an uncertain time and my first care right now and the next few days is to support my family as well as our friends and associates at Els for Autism,” Els said. “We must set be ready for the consequences of this terrible storm. It’s going to be a hard time and we have to put our shoulders together.”

Els’ high school, which serves the needs and dreams of autistic children, is based in Jupiter, Florida. The school closed down in preparation for the storm, which is still battering the state. At the end of August, Els was bestowed the 2017 Heisman Humanitarian Award for his work with the foundation.

“It is extremely regrettable that Ernie Els can not be with this year,” said tournament director Daan Slooter. “However, we all understand his choice and hope with him that the damage after the hurricane is not too bad and that everyone is safe.”

The post Ernie Els withdraws from tournament to help those impacted by Hurricane Irma appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.

PODCAST: Stacy Lewis discusses her inspiring win to help Hurricane Harvey victims

The photos come from reddit user Kolsefur, who says he saw them on a friend’s Facebook page.

But as you might imagine, the wildfire is not as close to the golfers as it seems in the photos. Golf Digest confirmed the course in the photos is Beacon Rock Golf Course, which is actually located in North Bonneville, Washington. Beacon Rock’s operations manager Mark Mayfield said there are no wildfires currently threatening the course.

Here’s a map that gives you a better idea of the surrounding area. The wildfire in the photos is south of the course, on the other side of the Columbia River:

Golfers are crazy, but they’re not that crazy.

The post These photos of golfers playing on as an Oregon wildfire rages nearby are absolutely nuts appeared first on Golf Digest Middle East.