PGA Tour Pro Has Perfect Response to Fan Who Bet on Him amid Heartbreak
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Andrew Novak took his heartbreaking loss to Justin Thomas at the recent RBC Heritage like a pro. It is a remarkable thing considering Novak was on the verge of the biggest result of his professional career at Hilton Heads.
But Novak didn’t let his frustration get the best of him, at least not for long. Just after the round, while signing autographs, he was seen joking with a fan who claimed to have bet on him before the final round.
“You bet on me?” Novak said. “I hope it was top 5 and not to win.”
It was refreshing this type of behavior after such a tough defeat.
A few weeks ago, Collin Morikawa made headlines for not meeting with the press after losing a tournament he was leading. Morikawa later claimed that he did not do so because he “owes nobody anything”.
Novak was among the top contenders at the RBC Heritage throughout the tournament. He entered the final round tied for second place with a 54-hole score of 14-under. He was tied with eventual champion Justin Thomas and just one stroke behind Si Woo Kim, who was leading the event at the time.
The Raleigh, North Carolina native had five birdies and two bogeys in the final round, but it was not enough to break the tie with Thomas, who went bogey-free with three birdies. Both finished tied for the lead and had to decide the title in a sudden death playoff.
Andrew Novak of the United States reacts on the 15th green during the final round of the RBC Heritage 2025 at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 20, 2025 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Andrew Novak of the United States reacts on the 15th green during the final round of the RBC Heritage 2025 at Harbour Town Golf Links on April 20, 2025 in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Getty Images/Jared C. Tilton
Both players reached the left green within two strokes, leaving their respective balls in very close positions. But while Thomas holed his 21-foot putt for birdie, Novak failed to do the same with the 31-foot putt in front of him, giving his rival his first title in three years.
“I’m not as frustrated as I thought I would be,” Novak said after finishing the tournament. “I feel like I did a lot of good things. I’m pretty proud of putting myself in that position when I really felt like I wasn’t swinging it that great this week, the fact that I was able to scrap out almost a win with not really swinging my best.”
Novak began his professional career in 2017 and earned his PGA Tour card in 2022. At that level, he has played 99 tournaments with 59 cuts and 10 top 10s, including two runner-up finishes.
His 2025 season has been up and down for him on the PGA Tour, as he has missed six cuts in 13 tournaments, but has finished in the top 5 three times.
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