News
USGA says Justin Thomas did not, in fact, avoid or cancel any meetings with the organization
On Tuesday afternoon, the USGA issued a statement in which the organization admitted that, contrary to its previous claim, Justin Thomas had not cancelled or avoided any discussions with the governing body in the past.
As well as conceding that the 25-year-old had not avoided talking to them, the USGA also echoed Tour chief Jay Monahan’s sentiment in the memo he issued to all Tour players this week, stating
“We value his and all players’ opinions and are committed to a productive dialogue as the golf world adjusts to the modernized rules.”
After further and more direct conversations with @JustinThomas34, we realize he did not avoid a discussion with the USGA nor cancel any meetings. We value his and all players’ opinions and are committed to a productive dialogue as the golf world adjusts to the modernized rules.
— USGA PR (@USGA_PR) March 5, 2019
The statement comes after the organization had claimed over the weekend that Thomas had “cancelled every meeting we’ve planned with you.” It was a charge which caught Thomas by surprise on Sunday evening, who while speaking following his final round of the Honda Classic, said the claims were inaccurate and that he was “hurt” by the accusation.
Thomas retweeted yesterday’s statement from the USGA without further comment, while fellow professional Lee Westwood responded to the USGA’s tweet, calling it “one of the worst apologies I’ve ever seen.”
With the second major of 2026 now behind us, the PGA Tour arrives in Texas for the CJ Cup Byron Nelson.
GolfWRX Tour Photographer, Greg Moore, is on site at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, and he’s already captured several WITBs and a look at some new colorways of just-spotted L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i putters.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #3
WITB Albums
- Brennan Little (Gary Woodland’s caddy) – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adam Svensson – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Martin Laird – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Lee Hodges – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Aaron Wise – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Dylan Wu – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- AJ Ewart – WITB – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- New Graphite Design Tour AD shafts – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- L.A.B. Golf VZN.1i putters (new colors) – 2026 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
See what GolfWRXers are saying and join the discussion in the forums.
Aaron Rai upset the odds to win his first major championship on Sunday at Aronimink, firing a final round of 5-under par to see off his competitors and claim the winner’s check for $3,690,000.
Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley were the best of the chasing pack, with both men sharing runner-up spot which was good enough for each to receive a check for $1,804,000.
With a total prize purse of $20.5 million up for grabs, here’s a look at how much each player won at the 2026 PGA Championship.
Players who missed the PGA Championship cut each received $4,300 each.
1: Aaron Rai, $3,690,000
T2 : Jon Rahm, $1,804,000
T2 : Alex Smalley, $1,804,000
T4: Justin Thomas, $843,866
T4: Ludvig Aberg, $843,866
T4: Matti Schmid, $843,866
T7: Cameron Smith, $637,050
T7: Rory McIlroy, $637,050
T7: Xander Schauffele, $637,050
T10: Kurt Kitayama, $496,707
T10: Chris Gotterup, $496,707
T10: Justin Rose, $496,707
T10: Patrick Reed, $496,707
T14: Matt Fitzpatrick, $364,762
T14: Scottie Scheffler, $364,762
T14: Max Greyserman, $364,762
T14: Ben Griffin, $364,762
T18: Maverick McNealy, $229,128
T18: Jordan Spieth, $229,128
T18: Stephan Jaeger, $229,128
T18: Padraigh Harrington, $229,128
T18: David Puig, $229,128
T18: Harris English, $229,128
T18: Min Woo Lee, $229,128
T18: Joaquin Niemann, $229,128
T26: Nick Taylor, $125,523
T26: Alex Noren, $125,523
T26: Cameron Young, $125,523
T26: Andrew Novak, $125,523
T-26: Daniel Hiller, $125,523
T26: Tom Hoge, $125,523
T26: Sam Burns, $125,523
T26: Hideki Matsuyama, $125,523
T26: Bud Cauley, $125,523
T35: Christiaan Bezuidenhout, $78,805
T35: Patrick Cantlay, $78,805
T35: Ryo Hisatsune, $78,805
T35: Daniel Berger, $78,805
T35: Ryan Fox, $78,805
T35: Haotong Li, $78,805
T35: Aldrich Potgieter, $78,805
T35: Si Woo Kim, $78,805
T35: Martin Kaymer, $78,805
T44: Chris Kirk, $53,743
T44: Matt Wallace, $53,743
T44: Shane Lowry, $53,743
T44: Jhonattan Vegas, $53,743
T44: Denny McCarthy, $53,743
T44: Chandler Blachet, $53,743
T44: Taylor Pendrith, $53,743
T44: Dustin Johnson, $53,743
T44: Nicolai Hojgaard, $53,743
T44: Michael Kim, $53,743
T44: Kristoffer Reitan, $53,743
T55: Collin Morikawa, $34,186
T55: Corey Conners, $34,186
T55: Andrew Putnam, $34,186
T55: Brooks Koepka, $34,186
T55: Mikael Lindberg, $34,186
T60: Sami Valimaki, $29,218
T60: Sahith Theegala, $29,218
T60: Rico Hoey, $29,218
T60: Rickie Fowler, $29,218
T60: Brian Harman, $29,218
T65: Casey Jarvis, $26,900
T65: Jason Day, $26,900
T65: Rasmus Hojgaard, $26,900
T65: Keith Mitchell, $26,900
T65: Sam Stevens, $26,900
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Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)...
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Driver: TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees) Shaft: Aldilda Synergy Blue 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
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Tom
Mar 7, 2019 at 1:55 pm
PGA Tour conducts play at the highest level on earth. The PGA Tour in conjunction with the R&A should establish their own ruling body and split from the ‘ship of fools’ better known as the USGA.
geohogan
Mar 7, 2019 at 1:54 pm
USGA and pga should have respect for golf and growth of the game ahead of ego and
grandstanding. Leave governing by tweet to POTUS.
Eddie
Mar 7, 2019 at 10:15 am
Lie to create a discrediting narrative. Get caught lying. CYA statement. Yep, the status quo is corrupt throughout. That’s what happens to overpayed armwaving BSers who produce nothing.
Tom
Mar 6, 2019 at 6:21 pm
USGA’s John Boneheader got it wrong about Thomas cancelling…..what a tool!
Eddie
Mar 7, 2019 at 10:19 am
It’s OK to call a liar a liar.
Tom
Mar 6, 2019 at 2:19 pm
USGA is incompetent….that says it all!
Lee W
Mar 6, 2019 at 12:15 pm
The USGA has blown it yet again! How stupid can a large organization’s people be and still be respected? Answer: Very STUPID!!!
joro
Mar 6, 2019 at 7:18 pm
It is like I told a USGA guy one day when Callaway had a meeting with the USGA and R&A about the CER “illegal” Driver because it hit the ball 3 yds farther than the Big Berths by tests done by the R&A. He said I don”t agree with the rule on the Driver. I said why should I expect to believe a group that is composed of a bunch of Bozos that wear white shirts and Black armbands at their Championship in 100 degree temps and Thunder storms and lightning that have killed people. Booooo USGA, get real.
Hildebrandt
Mar 6, 2019 at 10:08 am
The players need to fire the USGA.
CrashTestDummy
Mar 6, 2019 at 9:32 am
So their previous comment that Thomas avoided and cancelled meetings was fake news. Lol. USGA is losing their respect even more now.
Mower
Mar 6, 2019 at 10:06 am
They’re like a multi-headed hydra!
youraway
Mar 6, 2019 at 8:46 am
Now the USGA is losing all integrity and credibility.
But the players, if they really care, will provide constructive comments to their players board and the USGA, that’s the way to make changes, not whinny on social media or making an unprofessional picture of a drop technique.
JD
Mar 6, 2019 at 9:58 am
Na I’m good with the public shaming. This stuff is ridiculous. USGA should use Twitter as well, just don’t lie lol… not sure why that isn’t understood…