Justin Thomas hopes PGA Tour decisions deter others from joining Saudi-backed league

There are some very strong opinions when it comes to the standoff between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Arabia-funded breakaway league, and Justin Thomas made it very clear which side of the aisle he is on.

After the PGA's announcement Wednesday to deny golfers' requests to play in the LIV Golf Invitational in London next month — and with those golfers at risk of being suspended or banned — Thomas said he hopes the decision will encourage pros to not attend.

"I would hope it would deter them from going over there," Thomas said during a news conference Wednesday ahead of the AT&T Byron Nelson, vis ESPN. "I think [PGA Commissioner Jay Monahan] made it very clear from the start what would happen. I think a lot of people are probably like, 'I can't believe you did this,' or, 'Wow, you went through with it.' But this is what he said was going to happen all along. And, yeah, it's one of those things to where he just doesn't want the competing tour, the back and forth."

All players on the PGA, Korn Ferry and PGA Championship tours received a memo on Tuesday that requests to leave the Tour to play in the LIV event will be denied because it conflicts with the RBC Canadian Open. Any golfer who still goes to the London event after being denied will face discipline from the Tour.