Nick Geddes
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Justin Thomas has no issue with PGA Tour players defecting for the LIV Golf Invitational Series — just as long as they’re honest with their intentions of joining.
Thomas appeared on the NLU Podcast recently and said he would have more respect for players if they outright said they were joining for the money. Players such as Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson have reportedly received contracts worth more than $100 million guaranteed to join.
“I go back and forth about how involved I should be, how involved I shouldn’t be, what I should say, what I shouldn’t say, what I want to say and what I know I can’t say and back and forth of all these different things,” Thomas said. “I understand they’re being fed everything what to say and all this stuff, but it’s just … For them to say that this is all for the betterment of the game, I just, to be perfectly honest, I just wish one of them would have the b—s to say I’m doing this for the money.
“Like, I personally would gain a lot more respect for that. But it’s just the more the players keep talking and saying that this is for the betterment of the game, the more agitated and irritated I get about it.”
Of the players who have joined, 22 being in the top-100 of the Official World Golf Ranking, many reasons for joining have been said. Brooks Koepka said the LIV Golf circuit, which will play eight events this year, would allow him to have more time for physical recovery. Patrick Reed is a fan of the shotgun start and said LIV Golf has a more “family environment” feel to it.
Pat Perez, a veteran of the PGA Tour since 1998, said it was like “winning the lottery.”
“For me, it’s real simple. I’m 46. I’ve played 515 events. I’ve been on the road since 1998. I’ve been on the road longer than Matt Wolff has been alive. I have an almost 4-year-old. I missed my son’s birth last year,” Perez said this week. “The bottom line is I’m tired of being on the road every day, and I don’t have to do it now. This opportunity [is] like winning the lottery for me.”
LOL everyone already knows its always about the dough
Exactly. I’m sure JT would play for a $50K winners purse…… don’t make me laugh. The more I hear these PGA Tour stooges talk, the more I get irritated. I guess they can’t handle a little competition….
It’s always about the money! Greed, greed, greed has taken over the world. And when these multi millionaires say it’s for the betterment of the game,,I wanna puke right on top Phil’s head. Also, when anybody says “it’s not about the money”,,,It’s The Money!!
What’s wrong with making a personal career decision “because of the money” ….. Haven’t most of us done that during our careers ????
I wonder how long the LIV players will live inside the heads of these PGA players who seem to think they suddenly have a soap box to tel other people how and where to live their lives? Its bizarre. I. can’t think of one single reason why JT would care where someone else plays golf….or lives how thet wants to live. I agree with Brooks…I literally Don’t get it!