Justin Thomas ‘blown away’ by high prices of beer and food at 2022 PGA Championship

Going to watch live sports has been increasing in price as years have gone by, but enough is enough for Justin Thomas.

The 2017 PGA Championship winner is not happy about what fans will have to pay for drinks and food at this year’s edition of the major.

When Thomas got wind of a report from Golfweek’s Steve DiMeglio, which said it will cost fans $18 for a beer and $16 for a salad at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma, he felt he had to say something.

Justin Thomas celebrates with the Wanamaker Trophy after putting in to win on the 18th green, the third playoff hole during the final round of the 2022 PGA Championship on Sunday, May 22, 2022, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Justin Thomas reacts to his winning putt on the 18th hole with caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay.

Will Zalatoris reacts to his putt on the 18th green, putting him against Justin Thomas for the three-hole playoff.

Abraham Ancer hits from the fairway on the fourth hole.

Rory McIlroy places his golf ball on the fourth tee wearing a bracelet with his daughter's name on it.

Matthew Fitzpatrick plays a shot on the seventh hole.

Rickie Fowler hits from the hazard on the 17th hole.

Tiger Woods waves after his third round on the 18th hole on Saturday, May 21, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Woods withdrew from the competition after struggling in his third round.

Matt Fitzpatrick reacts to a missed birdie putt on the 15th green during the third round.

Matt Fitzpatrick and Davis Riley walk on the 18th green during the third round.

Will Zalatoris plays his shot from the bunker on the first green during the third round.

Tiger Woods and his caddy walk on the ninth green during the third round.

Spectators watch Will Zalatoris hit his shot on the 16th hole during the third round.

Mito Pereira tees off from the 12th tee during the third round.

Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the second tee during the second round on Friday, May 20.

A young spectator views players through binoculars during the second round.

Tiger Woods plays his second shot on the first hole as a gallery of fans look on during the second round.

Erik van Rooynen (left) and Harry Higgs (right) clean off the green on the 12th hole during the second round.

Xander Schauffele plays a shot from a bunker on the fifth hole during the second round.

Aaron Wise kneels on the seventh hole after being hit by a ball played by Cameron Smith during the second round.

Fans dressed in matching Hawaiian shirts and shorts watch the action during the second round.

Collin Morikawa on the 18th tee during the second round.

A squirrel runs across the fairway on the 16th hole during the second round.

Justin Thomas hits from the rough on the 16th hole during the second round.

Patrick Cantlay putts on the 15th green during the second round.

Spectators walk uphill to the first and 10th tee boxes in the second round.

Rory McIlroy watches his tee shot on the 15th hole during the first round of the PGA Championship on Thursday, May 19.

Adri Arnaus of Spain walks on the 10th hole during the first round.

Tiger Woods reacts after his shot from the eighth tee during the first round.

Hideki Matsuyama plays his shot from the 13th tee during the first round.

Scottie Scheffler lines up a putt on the second green.

Ryan Vermeer searches for his golf ball on the 16th hole during the first round.

Adam Scott plays a shot on the eighth tee during the first round.

Cameron Smith plays a shot from a bunker on the eighth hole during the first round.

Fans watch on the 14th hole during the first round.

Cameron Davis reacts after his tee shot on the third hole.

Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods stand on the fourth green.

Will Zalatoris plays his shot from the 10th tee.

Rory McIlroy and caddie Harry Diamond walk over a bridge on the third hole during a practice round prior to the start of the 2022 PGA Championship.

Fans watch as Tiger Woods prepares to play a shot on the sixth hole.

Jordan Spieth signs autographs during a practice round ahead of the 2022 PGA Championship.

Maintenance takes place ahead of a practice round before the start of the 2022 PGA Championship.

In pictures: The 2022 PGA Championship

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Thomas replied to the tweet with the report expressing his incredulity.

“$18(!!!!!!) for a beer… uhhhh what. Gotta treat the fans better than that!” the 29-year-old said.

When one twitter user challenged Thomas as to where he thought the large winner’s prize pot came from, Thomas said humorously: “Tv deals, ticket sales, corporate sponsors, etc. from the looks of it if the concession stands were factored into our purse we would be playing for $15 million.”

In his pre-tournament press conference, Thomas was asked about the prices, and he once again expressed his surprise and disappointment. He said it was something that had been commented on in the changing room among his fellow players.

The concession stand beer case with Michelob Ultra is seen during a practice round prior to the start of the 2022 PGA Championship.

“I just saw it and I was blown away,” he said. “It’s just a bummer. You want people to come to the tournament. If I’m on the fence and I’m looking at the concession stand, that’s not the greatest thing. But at the same time, people aren’t like coming to a tournament, like: ‘Oh, I’m going to go buy a Michelob Ultra,’ you know what I mean.”

“I was just blown away because I’ve never seen a beer $18 or $19 in my life,” he said. “Guys have been talking about it, so I had to stand up for the fans. Felt like it was right.”