Justin Thomas spoke about the quality of the Players Championship field this week amid the split between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, and the 2021 couldn’t resist a jibe at Talor Gooch.
Justin Thomas launched a brazen dig at his LIVGolf rival Talor Gooch, following the latter controversial comments on “asterisk” in the field of this year’s Master’s degree.
Thomas is one of many PGA Tour stars in action at this week’s Players Championship – an event dubbed golf’s ‘fifth major’. Much has been made of the level of the field at TPC Sawgrass this week, with a number of LIV stars missing due to their PGA Tour bans.
Former champion Thomas addressed the debate in the build-up to this year’s event, commenting: “You can always make the argument that there are other tournaments that are or aren’t.
“The PGA Championship has been the richest field in terms of top 100 players, and I’m not just saying that for selfish reasons, it’s just the truth.” The level of the grids has become a hot topic in recent months, especially when it comes to the four major championships.
The four marquee events are expected to include a lower number of LIV golfers this year due to their drop in the world rankings. One man who won’t be in any major action is 2023 breakaway league champion Gooch, who raised eyebrows last month by claiming that a Rory McIlroy victory at this year’s Masters would come with an “asterisk » due to the lack of LIV players involved.
“If Rory Mcllroy completes his Grand Slam without some of the best players in the world, there will just be an asterisk,” Gooch said. Australian golf summary. “That’s just the reality. I think everyone wins whenever the majors find a way to attract the best players in the world.”
For all the latest news, politics, sports and showbiz news from across the United States, visit The US mirror .
Seeing the funnier side of Gooch’s comments, Thomas continued at TPC Sawgrass: “I know what you mean in terms of world rankings and guys who are or aren’t on Tour anymore, but it’s just a little reality – and what they do.” they are engaged. And, yeah, I mean, I’m not going to have an asterisk next to my name for winning because the field wasn’t very good, right? »
Following Gooch’s comments in late February, McIlroy himself had his say. T The Northern Irishman – who will be looking to finally get his hands on the green jacket and complete his career Grand Slam – said at the Cognizant Classic: “The Masters is an invitational tournament and they will invite everyone who, according to them, deserve an invitation.
“I think to be fair to Talor if you read the whole question and answer, it’s not like he just said that. I feel like whoever did the interview l ‘kind of led down this path to say that, so I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt there, he basically agrees with what the interviewer asked.
Despite a diplomatic response, McIlroy had little sympathy for Gooch’s absence at Augusta next month, pointing to Joaquin Niemann’s work away from LIV, which earned him an invitation to the Masters. “But at the same time Joaquin Niemann got an invitation and I played with Joaquin in Dubai a few weeks ago and he went to Australia and I won,” he added.
“He was in Oman last week. He’s been traveling the world to fight his way to Augusta or show enough form to warrant an invite and I don’t know if the same can be said for Taylor.”
