Thomas questions Players ‘strongest field in golf’

When Justin Thomas claimed victory on the 2021 Gamers Championship, the highest 20 on the leaderboard was filled with distinguished names like Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm and Cameron Smith.

The absence of that trio at TPC Sawgrass for this yr’s Gamers Championship, together with a number of different present LIV Golf gamers who contended that week – corresponding to Paul Casey, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood and Talor Gooch – raises doubts about one of many key sights of this occasion: “The strongest area in golf.”

Additionally lacking this week are the likes of Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka, who share 13 Main trophies between them. This elevates the query of whether or not the PGA Tour’s flagship occasion actually boasts the strongest area.

When questioned, Thomas didn’t solely disagree, acknowledging it’s “simply the truth” of the place the game stands presently.

“I do know what you imply by way of how World Rating and guys which are or aren’t on the Tour anymore,” he stated. “However that’s simply sort of the truth that – and what they’ve put themselves in. I imply, I’m not going to have an asterisk subsequent to my title for successful this as a result of the sector wasn’t too good, proper.”

The continued fracture between LIV and the PGA Tour implies that whereas half of the sport’s greatest stars compete at one of many extra iconic golf programs, the opposite half are at dwelling awaiting their subsequent occasion, happening at Trump Nationwide Doral the week earlier than The Masters.

“I imply, it’s nonetheless been the very best area in golf for a lot of earlier years,” Thomas stated. “Yeah, you would all the time make an argument that there’s different tournaments which are or aren’t. The PGA Championship has been the deepest area by way of probably the most prime 100 gamers, and I’m not simply saying that for egocentric causes, it’s simply the reality.”

Regardless of this, the two-time Main champion gave an empathic reply when requested what a win this week would imply.

“I simply need to play nice golf and win golf tournaments, whether or not I’m enjoying for one greenback or 10 million or a billion {dollars}. Like I nonetheless need to win that trophy that they’re giving out on Sunday on the finish of the week, and my greatest alternative of doing that’s in all probability to focus extra on golf than the choice stuff.”

Picture: Kevin Cox