Posted on 06/05/2022 12:01:53 PM PDT by Mr. Mojo
Dustin Johnson — Masters champion, veteran still very much in his prime, ranked No. 13 in the world — has joined the about-to-debut LIV Golf tour.
With one move, the LIV tour vaulted from irrelevance to curiosity. Next up: threat.
The Saudi-backed venture is planning on hosting eight 48-player tournaments this season in a range of locations around the world, including the United States. LIV’s primary draw for players is money — vast, generational sums of money — supplied by Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Public Investment Fund. Thanks to a $2 billion investment, LIV plans to begin with a handful of tournaments in 2022 and 2023 before breaking wide in 2024.
The Telegraph reported Wednesday that Johnson was paid £100 million — about $125 million — to join the league. Given that Johnson has earned about $74 million in tournament winnings in the entirety of his PGA Tour career, that sum — or anything close to it — would be enough to get a "tell me more…" from almost anyone.
A player who turns his back on the PGA Tour and sponsorships doesn’t do so without assurances that money in equal or greater amounts will be flowing his way.
From the outside, critics have accused LIV of sportswashing — using sports to clean up the image of Saudi Arabia and obscure its human rights violations. For players, the political backdrop isn’t the issue.
If LIV Golf is still around in five years — and there’s certainly enough money flowing in that it could be — a whole lot of people are going to be rethinking their options. With Johnson in the fold, it’s already begun.
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.yahoo.com ...
Probably many of the same critics who give China a pass on …everything.
The PGA will probably attempt to ban players who tee up with LIV, after which a big legal battle will ensue.
PGA wives are safe…
we’re paying for this LIV tour, everytime u fill up
Trump is involved also, pay back for Bedminster fiasco, final @doral0
Johnson has plenty of sense.
Won't matter if Johnson is getting paid a massive $125 million to join LIV.
Could mean less house sales in Abacoa (Jupiter) for ex-tour wives. Not sure what that means for the local housing market.
Note to the world: Saudi Arabia is
Being east of Suez, it is part of the future unlike Europe
Balderdasious drivel
“Sportswashing”?
The most recent PGA tour-okayed golf tournament in Saudi Arabia was held in February, 2022. Apparently their appearance fees, which the PGA tour does not allow, we’re very inviting. I understand that the PGA TOUR does not want its players to play on a different door but it seems very hypocritical to say it is because of Saudi Arabia’s human rights abuses.
his wife is Paulina Gretzky, and she’s smoking hot for a WAG
Good for DJ.
FYI, the PGA has recently banned Trump-backed resorts for their next tourneys so F the PGA.
the PGA banned Trump golf courses so it didnt surprise me PDJT is behind it..
I’m concerned for some of the non majors of the PGA. Some of them - such as the Travelers Open (Hartford) helps funding the Greater Hartford Jaycees.
Maybe they will not have the half hour intro promoting the black culture before every game. Then almost every commercial on PGA has black actors.
For a sport that is majority white players and viewers they sure are pandering to a small percentage of the population.
Someone gonna give you $125 million to chase a little white ball around a course for a few hours you’d be stupid to pass it up.
He’s free to pursue happiness.
That’s walking around money for the Saudis.
IIRC a retired pro-golfer recently ripped the PGA a new one for its hostility to Trump resorts. Can’t remember the name. Anyway, I hope PDJT gets his revenge!
Other leading golfers making the move include Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Kevin Na, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer, Charl Schwartzel and Talor Gooch.
Trump backed the new league and after the PGA of America announced last year they were yanking a major tournament from Trump’s club in Bedminster.
“The PGA of America Board of Directors voted tonight to exercise the right to terminate the agreement to play the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster.” — Jim Richerson, PGA of America President”
The LIV will host an event at Trump National Doral, Miami, USA. The full list of events in the LIV series are below:
9-11 June: Centurion Golf Club – London, England
1-3 July: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club – Portland, USA
29-31 July: Trump National Golf Club Bedminster – New Jersey, USA
2-4 September: The International – Boston, USA
16-18 September: Rich Harvest Farms – Chicago, USA
7-9 October: Stonehill Golf Club – Bangkok, Thailand 14-16 October: Royal Greens Golf Club – Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
27-30 October: Team Championship, Trump National Doral, Miami, USA
Thanks for the update.
I love it!
Don’t F w/Trump.
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