Has LIV been good for golf? Justin Thomas isn’t convinced…

Justin Thomas has weighed in on whether the inception of Saudi-backed circuit LIV Golf has been good for the game.

It was founded in 2022 and stunned men’s professional golf, as PGA Tour stars jumped ship for the riches of Greg Norman’s startup.

But three years on, LIV remains locked in negotiations with the American circuit to reunify the game, and Thomas reckons it might have done more harm than good.

“I think you would be stubborn to say that, you know, a lot of things that have happened have been because of them and what’s gone on,” he said, when asked about prize money increases in particular.

Thomas added: “I mean, there’s a couple guys like a Phil or a Bryson that how they went about it maybe isn’t exactly how I would have, but they did make a lot of points or say some things that had some value to them or had some truth.

“I obviously wish it could have gone differently, but that’s neither here nor there, but do I think that a lot of things that have happened on our tour and in our game are because of that?

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“Now, it’s hard to say has it made the game of golf better because, you know, you can take both sides.

“It’s like, yeah, it’s maybe done some things on Tour that have improved the Tour, but the game of golf as a whole, if it’s separated and creating some animosity, then that’s not necessarily better.

“You can make arguments on both sides, there’s definitely been some good and bad on both, but I wish it obviously could have just been all good.”

His comments, of course, come ahead of The PLAYERS this week, the PGA Tour’s flagship event at TPC Sawgrass – where no LIV golfers are in action.

In fact, Thomas mentioned this has been his third straight year playing the tournament while the two sides are separated.

And the 2021 champion claims that all players, both LIV and PGA Tour stars, are beyond exhausted dealing with it.

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“I guess,” Thomas said, when asked if he was surprised it’s been in limbo this long. “But also, I don’t know. There’s just so much that goes into it.

“I’m glad I don’t know more or I’m not more invested because I think it would be mentally draining, physically draining. It just would be exhausting.

“I think we’re kind of like past the level of exhaustion. There are just so many of us, really on both sides that don’t really know what’s going on and we’re just playing golf and hoping for the best.”

John Turnbull A graduate of the University of Stirling, John joined the bunkered team in 2023 as a Content Producer, with a responsibility for covering all breaking news, tour news, grassroots content and much more besides. A keen golfer, he plays the majority of his golf at Falkirk Golf Club. Top of his 'bucket list' is a round of Pebble Beach... ideally in the company of Gareth Bale.