Justin Thomas, proper, and Jordan Spieth, left, are uncertain a few potential unification between the PGA Tour and LIV.
Maddie Meyer/PGA of America/PGA of America by way of Getty Photographs
As we proceed to await a possible closing settlement between the PGA Tour and the PIF, which runs LIV Golf, everyone seems to be left to invest over how, and even when, the 2 sides ought to reintegrate. The gamers aren’t any totally different, as evidenced by Justin Thomas‘ feedback on Tuesday.
In his press convention forward of the WM Phoenix Open, Thomas was requested about current feedback by Rory McIlroy suggesting that the PGA Tour ought to proceed ahead with the framework settlement with the PIF, and that LIV gamers ought to be allowed to return to the PGA Tour with out penalties.
McIlroy additionally reportedly revealed final week that he had a name with Jordan Spieth in regards to the situation, and Spieth disagreed strongly along with his opinion, believing that the Strategic Sports activities Group’s current $1.5 billion funding within the PGA Tour meant a closing take care of PIF was not important to the longer term.
“I don’t suppose that it’s wanted,” Spieth mentioned a few deal between the PGA Tour and PIF previous to final week’s AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am. “I believe the optimistic can be a unification, however I believe that, like I discussed earlier than, I simply suppose it’s one thing that’s virtually not even price speaking about proper this second given how well timed all the things can be to attempt to get it found out. However the thought is that we have now a strategic associate that permits the PGA Tour to go ahead the best way that it’s working proper now with out the rest with the choice of different traders. Whether or not them or any person else, that can simply be a call with them clearly being, you recognize, the lively talks.”
On Tuesday, Thomas revealed that whereas he isn’t firmly on one aspect or the opposite by way of a PGA Tour-PIF deal, ought to the 2 sides come to an settlement, he thinks gamers who left for LIV shouldn’t be capable of return “simply” to the PGA Tour.
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“I’m not essentially tremendous adamant come what may. I need the most effective product and the most effective gamers,” Thomas mentioned on Tuesday. “I might say that there’s a handful of gamers on LIV that may make the [PGA] Tour a greater place, however I’m positively not within the settlement that they need to simply be capable of come again that simply.”
He went on to clarify that the “sacrifices” PGA Tour execs made to show down LIV’s big-money provides makes it tough for these gamers to abdomen the thought of LIV execs rejoining the Tour, particularly with out some sort of system to deal with their preliminary choice to go away.
“I completely perceive that issues are altering and issues are getting higher, however it simply would — I might have a tough time with it,” Thomas mentioned, “and I believe a whole lot of guys would have a tough time with it, and I’m positive we don’t have to persuade you why we might have a tough time with it.”
Regardless of his agency opinion, Thomas remains to be conserving an open thoughts for some sort of denouement between the PGA Tour and LIV sooner or later. However he, like the remainder of us, has little thought how that may truly work.
“I believe there’s a state of affairs someplace, no matter it’s, down the street of some sort of model of some guys being again, however when and what that’s, I don’t know.”
Thomas begins his opening spherical on the 2024 WM Phoenix Open on Thursday at 2:44 p.m. ET.
