During a press conference ahead of the RBC Canadian Open, Justin Thomas said it was a “bummer” that Dustin Johnson quit the PGA Tour to play in the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
But while disappointed, the reigning PGA champion said Johnson, and the others, are “entitled to their own opinion.”
“It’s a bummer,” said Thomas. “I’ve thought a lot about it, and people are entitled to choose as they wish. I don’t dislike DJ now. I don’t think he’s a bad dude. I’m not going to treat him any differently. He’s entitled to choose as he wishes.”
Thomas then spoke about the media’s vicious smear campaign.
?️ "I know the PGA Tour is the best place to play in the world"
Justin Thomas shares his thoughts on players leaving the PGA Tour to join the LIV Golf Series ? pic.twitter.com/QZFmJzrRTu
— Sky Sports Golf (@SkySportsGolf) June 8, 2022
“I think that the day and age that we live in now, it’s just so negative that you see it in everything,” said Thomas, who endured similar in 2021.
“Sports, politics, whatever it is – if you disagree with someone, you just feel that you’re entitled to hate them and talk bad about them and just bash their decision, when everybody’s entitled to their own opinion.
“It doesn’t make him a bad person. Now, I’m disappointed and I wish that he and others wouldn’t have done it, but that’s their decision.
“I’ve said it all along: Guys can do as they wish. If they want to go, they can go. If they want to stay, they can stay.”
