The 2025 RBC Heritage playoff went two ways for two golfers. For the winner, Justin Thomas, it was “as fun as I thought it would be.” His 21-foot birdie putt that secured the victory at Harbour Town Golf Links marked his 16th Tour title, effectively ending a nearly three-year winless streak since the 2022 PGA Championship. With this win, he also joined an elite group of golfers—Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tiger Woods—who have achieved at least 16 victories and two majors before the age of 32. However, for his playoff partner, Andrew Novak, the day wasn’t as historic. In fact, things started to go downhill for him the moment he noticed a particular aspect of JT’s gameplay.

When asked by Smylie Kaufman on his YouTube show, The Smylie Show, about the exact moment he knew Thomas would crush him in a $20 million event playoff, Andrew Novak recalled the intense feelings he experienced during that pivotal moment. “When I was over my birdie putt and looking at my birdie putt, I wasn’t really like thinking like ‘oh I have to make this,'” Novak said.

“I was trying to hit a good putt, but I was really like… I was locked in on my read.” Novak had just misread another putt and was determined to get it right this time. However, after marking his ball and walking back, he glanced over and saw Thomas walking into his putt. Novak’s tone shifted as he recounted the moment: “I just kind of got this feeling ‘oh man, he’s going to make this.'”

And he did. Thomas’s road to victory was paved with nothing but improved putting, a skill he had struggled with in the past. After ranking 174th in Strokes Gained: Putting last season, Thomas worked with Xander Schauffele to refine his technique. He adopted a more instinctual approach, which he calls “pro-am putting,” where he focuses on making putts without overthinking the read.

This new approach seemed to pay off, as Thomas finished third in Strokes Gained: Putting for the week. Novak had praised Thomas’s win then as well, saying, “Justin just went out and won it. There’s nothing you can really do about it.” Novak, who was seeking his first victory in his home state, closed with a 68 but fell just short.

Novak’s assessment of Thomas’s putt was eerily accurate. “It was about halfway there and I was kind of like ‘I think that’s in,'” Novak said. “And then it just never did anything to make me think otherwise.” The putt was a masterclass in precision, with “that perfect speed, that perfect roll on it.” Novak watched in awe as the ball went “right in the middle” of the hole, adding, “It would not go anywhere else, it was truly a perfect putt.” But it’s not only Novak who thinks that his playoff rival was playing well during the tournament.

Justin Thomas’s comments on Andrew Novak after winning the 2025 RBC Heritage

After winning his first game in three years, Justin Thomas shared a humorous anecdote about Andrew Novak, his playoff opponent at the RBC Heritage, revealing they had previously played a practice round together. “I was like, ‘Can I just join you guys?’ So I played the back nine with them, and they were having some kind of match,” Thomas said. Novak’s impressive performance that day stuck with Thomas, who added, “Andrew shot 59 that day. So I told Joe. I was like, ‘Yeah, I’ve played with him once and he shot 59 at TPC River Highlands.'”

Thomas praised Novak’s skills, saying, “Yeah, he’s obviously very good. So yes, that was my experience, and you could see in the shot he hit into 18, when he gets going, he’s going.” Novak has been having a strong season, with multiple top finishes, and Thomas’s comments highlighted his respect for his opponent’s abilities. Despite coming up short, Novak’s recent performances have earned him a spot at 34th in the Official World Golf Ranking, ahead of notable golfers like Tony Finau and Jordan Spieth.

So, do you think Novak can redeem himself in his next tournament? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!