Thomas bags Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay for caddie duties

Jim ‘Bones’ Mackay spent 25 years on the bag for Phil Mickelson in one of the most successful partnerships in golf history.

Now the 56-year-old is taking on caddie duties for another superstar of the game with the news that Mackay will be carrying the bag for World No. 6, Justin Thomas.

Thomas won the 2020 WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational alongside then-temporary caddie, Jim Mackay (Credit: PGA Tour)

“It came out of left field very recently. I have just tremendous respect for [Thomas] as a person and a player,” Mackay told Golf Channel’s, Rex Hoggard. “It was an incredible phone call to get and I said yes.”

When available, Mackay will continue as an on-course reporter for NBC Sports/Golf Channel, where he has worked since splitting with Mickelson in 2017.

And what about Thomas’ current bagman and recent Caddie Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmy Johnson, who has been alongside the 28-year-old for almost all of his 14 PGA Tour victories?

“Jimmy and I had an incredible run of 6 years together but we have agreed to go our separate ways. I 100% did not fire him, as Jimmy came to me after the Ryder Cup and told me he has decided to pursue other opportunities,” said Thomas on social media.

“I have nothing but respect for Jimmy and his wife Jen and I’ll always appreciate all the success and times we had together, I wish him all the best.”

It’s not the first time the pair have worked together. Mackay first caddied for Thomas in 2018 while regular bagman, Johnson, was recovering from a foot injury. Mackay was also on the bag for Thomas last year when he won the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

The news comes hot on the heels of another high profile split with World No.7 Bryson DeChambeau parting ways with his longtime caddie, Tim Tucker, just hours before teeing off at the Rocket Mortgage Classic in July.