Thomas is losing sleep over LIV furore

JUSTIN Thomas admits he has lost sleep over the widening split in golf caused by the launch of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series.

Thomas and Rory

McIlroy have emerged as the PGA Tour’s strongest advocates as it attempts to fight off the threat posed by the rival circuit fronted by former world No 1 Greg Norman.

The Tour immediately suspended the 17 players who teed off in last week’s inaugural LIV Golf event in Hertfordshire, with those who opted to resign their membership instead becoming ineligible for the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup.

A day after the

54-hole LIV event came to an underwhelming conclusion, Thomas, McIlroy and Tony Finau fought out the RBC Canadian Open in a thrilling finish, with McIlroy eventually defending his title in front of a raucous crowd.

“It was a big week for the Tour,” said Thomas, who won his second major title in last month’s US PGA Championship.

“I tossed and turned and lost a lot of sleep last week thinking about what could potentially happen. I grew up my entire life wanting to play the PGA Tour, wanting to break records, make history, play Presidents Cups, play Ryder Cups.

“The fact that things like that could potentially get hurt because of some of the people that are leaving, and if more go, it’s just sad.

“The people that have gone, they have the decision that they’re entitled to make. Not necessarily that I agree with it one way or the other, but everything has got a price, I guess.

“It’s astronomical money that they’re throwing at people. There’s going to be some kind of number that’s going to get people to think about it, and they’re reaching that number with a lot of people.

“I’ve talked to some of my peers that have asked me questions but I’m like, ‘you’ve got to do what’s best for you or what you think is best for your career’. ‘But selfishly I don’t want you to go’. That’s how I kind of end any phrase or any conversation that

I’m having with somebody about it.”