Justin Thomas Backs PGA Tour Following Controversial Decision

Justin Thomas isn’t afraid to stand behind the PGA Tour in the face of controversy.

Today, the Tour’s commissioner, Jay Monaghan, made the announcement that he would not be allowing players out of their deals to join other tour’s looking to steal top players.

“We have notified those who have applied that their request has been declined in accordance with the PGA Tour Tournament Regulations. As such, Tour members are not authorized to participate in the Saudi Golf League’s London event under our regulations,” the memo to the players said. “As a membership organization, we believe this decision is in the best interest of the PGA Tour and its players.”

In response to the controversial decision, Justin Thomas backed the PGA — saying the tour has been consistent with their plans from the jump.

“I think Jay’s made it very clear from the start of what would happen or, you know, I think a lot of people are probably like, ‘I can’t believe you did this’ or, ‘Wow, you went through with it.’ But I mean this is what he said was going to happen all along,” Thomas said, via Golfweek. “It’s one of those things to where he just doesn’t want the competing tour, the back and forth.”

World #1 Scottie Scheffler also claimed he wasn’t surprised by the PGA’s decision.

“If you’re playing here on the PGA Tour, playing in something that could be a rival series to the PGA Tour, being a member of our Tour, it’s definitely not something where we want our membership to do because it’s going to harm the tournament that we have opposite that and that’s, I’m sure that’s why they were, why they did not release the players. Because if we have 15 guys go over there and play that hurts the RBC and the Canadian Open,” Scheffler said.

The LIV Tour, the s Saudi League with plans to compete against the PGA, has drawn interest from several players around the PGA. But now, it’ll be a lot less easy for players to make the switch.

The first LIV Golf Invitational is slated to take place from June 9-11, which is the same week as the PGA’s RBC Canadian Open.


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