Justin Thomas is one of Tiger Woods’ closest friends – but that does not earn him special treatment on the golf course.

Woods is known to be one of the fiercest competitors in all of sport, not only with his generational talent, but also his one-of-kind mentality.

Thomas and Woods won both of their matches together at the 2019 Presidents CupAFP

The 15-time major winner always boasted an elite ability to conjure up something magical under the most intense pressure.

But despite establishing himself as one of the greatest individuals in golf history, Woods’ record in team events never matched up until he arrived at the 2019 Presidents Cup.

Captaining the American team, Woods also delivered three points from three matches as a player, as Team USA claimed a 16-14 victory over the Internationals.

He formed an electrifying partnership with Thomas, who recalled a moment which summed up Woods’ intensity as a teammate.

Thomas recently told The Smylie Show: “It was in the alternate shot, and I just made like an eight-footer for birdie to stay tied in the match. We were in a really good match.

“So I had 16 tee shot, and it’s this brutal hole. It’s this very narrow dog-leg left, and it just gradually dog legs the whole way.

“I like to fade the ball off the tee, and there’s this damn tree that’s right off of the tee on the left that’s just right in my window… it’s a big point in the match. I need to get this ball in play.

“I have the greatest iron player on planet earth on my team, but it’s such a long hole, I can’t hit an iron because it’s like a driver/five-iron kind of par four.

“And I never really ask Tiger anything in terms of layups or whatever it is, and that’s what makes him such a great partner. He’s just like, ‘Look, you go play, I’ll go play, I’ll let you know if I need anything’.

“I call Tiger over. He’s like, ‘What?’ I’m like, ‘This tee shot’s not very comfortable for me. Do you care if you’re further back?’.”

Thomas had to deal with Woods’ intensityAFP

“Tiger said, ‘I don’t care what I have in, just put me in the f***ing fairway’.

“I was like, ‘Okay, that doesn’t make it any easier, but I appreciate it, partner.

“So I just teed down a low driver and hit like a little junior draw, and somehow hit the fairway… I’ll never forget that.”

Thomas and Woods would go on to claim a 1up victory over Ben An and Hideki Matsuyama.

There were wild celebrations as Thomas holed a lengthy birdie putt to win the match on the 18th hole, with both men shouting: ‘I love me some me!’

That proved to be a turning point, giving the Americans an injection of life to stage the comeback that followed.

The most recent Presidents Cup, which ended on Sunday, was not nearly as close, as the Americans cruised to a comfortable 18.5 – 11.5 win without Thomas or Woods.