'Bones' back in full-time employment with World No. 6

Phil Mickelson's long-time caddy Jim 'Bones' Mackay is to return to the PGA Tour and he will be alongside none other than Justin Thomas.

The 56-year-old has spent the past four years working as an on-course reporter for NBC Sports and Golf Channel, something that he will continue to do whenever possible, but he will now be back in the big time with the Ryder Cup star.

“It came out of leftfield very recently. I have just tremendous respect for [Thomas] as a person and a player,” Mackay explained. “It was an incredible phone call to get and I said yes. I love to caddy and I loved my role with NBC/Golf Channel but it’s Justin Thomas."

The quick assumption is that Thomas had 'fired' Johnson but the reality was nothing like that.

Thomas tweeted: '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. I have nothing but respect for Jimmy and his wife Jen and I'll always appreciate the success and times we had together. I wish him all the best – JT'

Thomas has been with Jimmy Johnson since his rookie year in 2015, and the pair of them captured the PGA Championship in 2017, but the partnership with Bones isn't a completely new thing. He stepped in when Johnson was injured at the 2018 Sony Open and again last year at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational where Thomas won by three strokes.

Bones was on Mickelson's bag from 1992 to 2017 and he was alongside the left-hander for his five major victories and Thomas will be hoping that his influence can get him back to the World No. 1 spot and picking up more majors.