4:15 p.m. ET
Paolo Uggetti ESPN
BROOKLINE, Mass. – Justin Thomas didn’t play a single hole during Monday’s practice round of the US Open at the country club, but it didn’t matter. There were still plenty of questions for him, most of them about the LIV Golf Invitational Series, which Thomas says has been the talk of the sport for the past few weeks.
“You can’t go anywhere without someone bringing it up,” Thomas said. “It is sad. This is the US Open and this is an incredible place, a place with so much history, an incredible field, so many storylines and yet all the questions seem to be about it. That is unfortunate.”
However, Thomas was more than willing to answer questions about LIV and share his thoughts on the Saudi-backed golf league.
“Self-interested, I don’t want anyone to go,” Thomas said. “I can only argue my case. But everyone out here is an adult, they can make their own decisions.”
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The world No. 5 player said he was not surprised at the departure of players to LIV, particularly Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau, but was saddened by the fact that players’ decisions to leave the PGA Tour are hurting could.
“They discussed it not only with a lot of their colleagues but also with other people,” Thomas said. “It’s astronomical money they’re throwing people. Everyone has their price for everything.”
The tour suspended 17 players who competed in the first LIV event last week. The USGA has allowed these players to compete in the US Open if they qualify or have an exemption. When asked how he thinks the majors are being affected by the fragmentation of the sport, Thomas said he was conflicted.
“I just want to play against the best in the world and have a chance to win majors,” said Thomas. “Nevertheless, the best players in the world have to be here, but at the same time I don’t necessarily want boys to be able to do both.”
Thomas conceded that he cannot control this decision and that the Majors are in a difficult position going forward. And while the advent of LIV could negatively affect the state of the PGA Tour, which Thomas said he always wanted to be a part of growing up, he reiterated that he’s tried to separate the decision from the person making it .
“You can object to the decision. You may wish that you did something differently,” Thomas said. “But when people back home say Dustin Johnson is a bad person now, that’s not fair. … Do I wish he hadn’t, and am I a little sad about that? Yes, but it is what it is. You just have to keep going and make the best of what you have.”