"Scottie's above that" - Justin Thomas believes LIV exodus may spark genuine PGA Tour rivalries again

Justin Thomas believes genuine rivalries could return to the PGA Tour again if LIV Golf stars are allowed back onto the circuit should the breakaway league collapse.

LIV Golf brings the curtain down on its 2026 season in Indianapolis this week, with the league's future hanging in the balance.

The uncertainty over LIV's future began in April when Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) confirmed it would no longer fund the venture.

LIV Golf says it has reached an agreement with a new investor to keep the league running without PIF backing.

However, significant hurdles remain before that deal can be finalised, raising the prospect that this week's four-day tournament at The Club at Chatham Hills could be LIV Golf's swansong.

In that scenario, there will be dozens of marquee golfers who may wish to return to the PGA Tour.

And Thomas believes their returns could provide a spark that has been missing.

Thomas pointed specifically to Bryson DeChambeau as the type of player capable of creating that dynamic.

"You'd have to have somebody that kind of plays into it a little bit, right?" Thomas told the We Need a Fourth podcast.

"You know, you look at someone like Scottie [Scheffler], and he just, like, he's above that."

Thomas stopped short of suggesting that any particular rivalry would immediately emerge.

Rory McIlroy told reporters during The Open that he wasn't particularly fond of DeChambeau and may relish the prospect of competing against the American more frequently.

DeChambeau, who is returning to South Africa later this year to compete at Gary Player's Nedbank Challenge, has expressed a desire to play on the PGA Tour and LIV in the future.

McIlroy is set to resume his rivalry with Patrick Reed on the DP World Tour later this year as the duo fight for the Race to Dubai title.

Reed has also had his PGA Tour membership reinstated.

Thomas said that his rivalry, every week, is against the golf course.

"I think that we lost some of those potentials with the LIV guys," said Thomas. "So, I think if they come back, there'll be some."

The prospect of LIV players returning to the PGA Tour remains complicated.

The PGA Tour created a one-time returning member program in January.

Brooks Koepka took advantage of the pathway, but it was not without significant financial penalties.

Cameron Smith, Jon Rahm and DeChambeau were also eligible for it but declined the offer.

At the time, the PGA Tour made it clear that a similar program may not exist again in the future.

Another man who has no issue with LIV Golf players crossing back over is Sam Burns.

Burns told Fox News ahead of the BMW Championship that unification is "best for the game as a whole."

"And ultimately that's what I want as a competitor," said Burns. "You want to play against the best players every week.

"Ultimately, I think there will be a path back for those guys. I don't exactly know what it'll look like."