Justin Thomas has admitted beating one of the LIV Golf rebels to this week’s Scottish Open would make the victory that bit more sweet. Thomas tees it up at The Renaissance Club alongside some of the sport’s biggest names in Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler with the Open Championship just a week away.
Also in the field though are four LIV Golf members in Ian Poulter, Branden Grace, Justin Harding and Adrian Otaegui. Initially the Saudi defectors were set to miss the event after receiving a banning order from the DP World Tour in response to their move to LIV Golf.
Clearly unhappy with the decision the rebels hit back at the Wentworth-based tour with a legal battle, which eventually proved successful as their suspension was overturned.
The Saudi League saga has caused a destructive civil war in the world of golf, and recently crowned PGA Champion Thomas has made his feelings clear throughout. Since murmurs of the LIV Series began, the American has always spoken strongly against the breakaway, echoing the thoughts of McIlroy, Tiger Woods and Jon Rahm.
Unsurprisingly, the Saudi discussion was the hottest topic at The Renaissance Club this week, and Thomas once again reiterated his views on the saga. With his eyes clearly on the Scottish Open prize, the world No. 5 revealed winning the title would be one thing, but to tip one of the controversial LIV defectors to the crown would make it that ‘little bit better’.
After being asked about the possibility of playing with one of the Saudi members this week, he said: “If I know all four of them, then it will be fine. It will be easy. But even if I don’t, I don’t necessarily think we’re going to be having any like gamesmanship or needling each other out there.
“At the end of the day, they are here for the same reason we are and that’s just trying to play well and give yourself an opportunity to win the Scottish Open. If it so happens that it comes to that point and you have an opportunity to beat one of them to win the tournament, it might be a little better, but I’m sure they would say the same thing.”
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The co-sanctioned PGA Tour and DP World Tour event in North Berwick kicks off today, and tournament organisers have unsurprisingly grouped the LIV rebels together for rounds one and two. As a result, Harding and Otaegui were shipped out in the opening group of the day on Thursday, whilst both Poulter and Grace will occupy the early morning spot on day two.
Thomas meanwhile will kick off his tournament later this afternoon at 1:25pm from the first tee. The world No. 5 plays in one of the event’s headline groups, as he joins 2021 Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama, and Englishman Tommy Fleetwood for the opening two rounds of the event.
