The long ongoing rivalry between the PGA Tour and Saudi-backed LIV golf has taken a new turn after a comment by Justin Thomas. The PGA Tour member expressed his feelings about golfers choosing LIV Golf and leaving the PGA tour.
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Even though everyone may make their own decisions, the major championship winner has his own input about what has been happening in the golf world lately.
Comment by Justin Thomas
In a press conference for ‘The Presidents Cup’ on 20th September 2022, Justin Thomas talked about the decisions of big golf names joining LIV. He called it a ‘selfish decision’. However, Thomas also said he understood the choice of several golfers to join LIV.
He felt they switched over to LIV because they see a better future there. He said that if he was in that situation, he might have made the same decision, but still doesn’t think it was right.
Thomas was not happy about how more golfers were shifting to LIV. He was of the opinion that golfers should respect the governing bodies and respect the decisions they make. Governing bodies make the rules for a reason, and players must follow them, according to Thomas.
However, choosing LIV might take away the chance of the players becoming part of the world ranking, too. And thus, he feels it would be their fault and that they cannot blame anyone else because the decision was theirs.
He said, “that’s their own fault for making the decision they made, and they knew very, very well going into it there’s a good chance they won’t have World Ranking points, and they took that risk.”
Not allowed at the PGA tour
Many big names, like Phil Mickelson, Bryson DeChambeau, and so forth, have chosen LIV golf because of its perks and financial benefits. Players are also choosing LIV golf because they can get more time to spend with their family, as the format of LIV Golf differs from the PGA Tour.
PGA has an old-school approach, whereas LIV Golf has a new and short process. Since more players are shifting to LIV, the PGA tour has enhanced its perks to keep the players.
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Also, the tour is not allowing former PGA Tour members to renew their PGA membership. Mickelson and DeChambeau were not planning on resigning from the PGA Tour even after joining the LIV Golf. But the PGA tour sent a letter, earlier this month to 22 players who are now part of LIV golf.
The letter clearly stated that the contract with LIV Golf is why they are debarred from renewing their PGA Tour membership.
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What do you think about this? Was Thomas right about calling the golfers selfish? And what the PGA Tour did by not letting its former members renew the membership, was it right? Share your views in the comment section.