At the opening night hosted by the Breakaway League, the captains gently chambered, citing the joy of competing rather than the money.
A $50 million purse is serious money, but the LIV Golf Series finale at Trump National Doral Golf Club began with laughter on Wednesday, as The dissident League supported by Saudi Arabia prepares to crown the first team champions.
“Golf, but stronger”
The $50 million is the biggest prize in sports, but fun, not money, was the most common reason players gave for moving from the PGA Tour to the controversial Rebel Tour, which bills itself as “Golf, but stronger”. In its launch year, LIV Golf defied the traditions of the sport, opting for a rock-and-roll party vibe that strays from classic etiquette and promises “good vibes, good meals and live music”.
In this grand finale, play begins this Friday with 12 four-man teams chasing a winner’s prize of up to $16 million. For the eight captains on stage Wednesday for the official presentation – including big winners Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Cameron Smith and Bubba Watson – cracking a good joke seemed more important than money.
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‘You probably don’t know because you’ve never been world number one’four-time major winner Koepka told Mickelson. “That’s a nice green shirt you’re wearing. But do you have a green jacket? »retorted Mickelson, three-time Masters champion. “I’m not wearing it today, but I will have it one day, don’t worry”replied Koepka.
LIV Golf, funded by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, has reportedly paid close to $1 billion to attract some of golf’s biggest names, such as Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau, away from the PGA Tour. Along with his signing bonus, Dustin Johnson arrives this week having already banked $13.6 million from seven events, while patrick reed raised $8.2 million over six tournaments.
World number one Rory McIlroy had the best year of his career last season, winning $8.6 million in 16 PGA Tour stops…
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