News
‘Pretty egotistical statement’ – Justin Thomas hits out at Mickelson’s bombshell Saudi comments
As speculation and controversy ramps up in regards to the potential Saudi breakaway league, PGA superstar Justin Thomas recently threw his two cents in on the topic.
Having already publicly stated that he had no interest in the Saudi league, his most recent comments took shots directly at Phil Mickelson, who has been one of the biggest names attached to Saudi.
Phil took part in an interview with The Fire Pit Collective’s Alan Shipnuck, where amongst other things he is reported as saying that he is using the Saudi Golf league for leverage with the PGA Tour.
In response, JT told reporters on Thursday:
“Seems like a bit of a pretty, you know, egotistical statement,” Thomas said.
“I’ve heard way too much talk about a lot of players that are so done with everything, but they keep hanging around, so clearly they’re not too done.
“I’ve never really gone down that road. I have a lot of things I’m focused on accomplishing out here and I’ll be the first to say that, yeah, there are plenty of things that I would love to see improve with the PGA Tour. But that’s a part of the process, you know?
“All you want to do is better the product and one by one, if we can improve this here, this there and keep getting better, then everybody wins.
“I’m very, very content with what’s going on. I mean, the reason I play golf is to create a legacy and win as many times as I can on the PGA Tour.
There is a prominent group of stars who are strongly opposed to the Greg Norman backed rival league, and it appears Thomas is at the forefront of the group alongside world number one Jon Rahm.
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
Justin Rose WITB 2026 (April): Full WITB breakdown with new McLaren irons
RBC Heritage Tour Report: More minis, course-specific setups, Spider & GTS launches
What’s the story behind Webb Simpson’s custom-stamped irons?
Cadillac Championship Tour Report: Spieth’s sizable changes, McLaren Golf launches, and more
Kristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2026 Cadillac Championship
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Nelly Korda WITB 2026 (April)
Justin Rose on the switch to McLaren Golf, learnings from previous equipment moves
Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship
Patrick Reed WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Titleist GT3 (9 degrees) Buy here. Shaft: Aldila Rogue Silver 130 M.S.I. 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi35 (15 degrees)...
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
Driver: TaylorMade M6 (9 degrees) Shaft: Aldilda Synergy Blue 70 TX 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue...
Michael Block WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: TaylorMade Qi4D (9 degrees) Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black VeloCore+ 5 X 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi4D (15 degrees @14.25) Shaft: Mitsubishi...
Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2026 (May)
Driver: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees) Shaft: Project X Prototype 3-wood: Krank Formula Fire (10 degrees) Shaft: LA Golf BAD...
-
Whats in the Bag3 weeks agoKristoffer Reitan’s winning WITB: 2026 Truist Championship
-
Whats in the Bag2 weeks ago
Aaron Rai’s winning WITB: 2026 PGA Championship
-
Tour Photo Galleries3 weeks agoPhotos from the 2026 PGA Championship
-
Equipment2 weeks agoGolfWRX Launch Report: 2026 Titleist GTS drivers
-
Equipment2 weeks agoPGA Championship Tour Report: Fitzpatrick, Koepka among big-name putter switches for Aronimink
-
News2 weeks agoWITB Time Machine: Phil Mickelson’s winning WITB, 2021 PGA Championship
-
Equipment2 weeks agoWhich of Tiger’s major winning irons are your favorite? – GolfWRXers discuss
-
Equipment2 weeks agoLead Tape Report: Adjusting the swingweight of the Wanamaker Trophy
geohogan
Feb 25, 2022 at 1:02 pm
“(The PGA Tour’s) brought millions and millions of dollars to communities, it’s brought great competition, great television,” Nicklaus said. “Why would I not support that? Instead, I’m going to go support for my own benefit, see 40 guys break away from the PGA Tour at the whim of an advertising agency in Saudi Arabia?
Henry R Fitzgerald
Feb 18, 2022 at 3:53 pm
Phil earned his money like JT, playing golf.
Who cares if he wants more? Not me.
Some of you care too much about people you don’t even know.
Too funny!
geohogan
Feb 27, 2022 at 1:18 pm
Lack of empathy = a narcissist cares only about people they know.
Too Sad!
BodeenJCS
Feb 18, 2022 at 3:01 pm
Believe what you want , but Phil just ruined professional golf for the foreseeable future and added a bunch of needless drama , Just what the PGA Tour needed . He killed his brand and made a mockery of the tour because of his greed …Sad I have and never had respect for the guy and his fake player for the people has always been a sham …
geohogan
Feb 21, 2022 at 9:43 am
Col Phil loves the smell of Saudi crude in the morning.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEgG6PvMuzI
Pingback: ‘Tiger’s our guy’ – Tour pro says Mickelson lacks pulling power for Saudis in box office interview – GolfWRX
Hunter
Feb 18, 2022 at 12:24 pm
JT is spot on. When you add up Tourney money, FedEx Cup money, Comcast Top 10 money, PIP money, Play 15′ money, plus the most generous pension plan in pro sports, guys on Tour are making plenty of money. Add in endorsements and outings, and the money gets really big. Compared to the avg. salary of the big four sports leagues, all of which have longer seasons and more many more required games, and Tour guys are doing just fine moneywise.
Henry R Fitzgerald
Feb 18, 2022 at 12:20 pm
From a guy that got his RL sponsorship yanked for speaking to himself and vowing down to the woke cultists….JT? I don’t think so.
PGA Tour= Corporate Greed and phoney wokeness.
Hunter
Feb 18, 2022 at 12:53 pm
Wrong. Tourney money, FedEx cup money, PIP money, Comcast Top 10 money, Play 15′ money, silly season money, appearance fees for playing overseas money, an insanely generous pension plan, endorsements and outings, sorry but Tour guys make plenty of money. Especially compared to the avg. salary of the big four sports leagues. No Tour player can complain about money. It’s insane the amount of cash these make per year.
joe
Feb 18, 2022 at 1:04 pm
Without the PGA Phil would be what? Poor millionaire. Privileged indeed.
JP
Feb 18, 2022 at 3:11 pm
Agree. Phil is a greedy over entitled fool. Wealth and fame should be used for good but it often ruins one’s ego and sense of the world. PGA tour will always be better than any Saudi league. I don’t think Phil is helping anyone including himself.
jgpl001
Feb 21, 2022 at 3:40 am
Yeah, that would be tough
Brian
Feb 18, 2022 at 9:14 pm
Go to work on Monday and audibly utter a gay or racial slur for others to hear and report back to us on how that worked out.