LIV golf is funded by the Saudi Investment Fund. The Saudis are spending an enormous amount of money to sports wash their image & improve global PR.
The players are leaving because the amount of $ being offered is much higher than what the PGA tour offers. We’re witnessing in real time how everyone would answer: “how much money would it take for you to shill PR for one the worst regimes in the world?”
Dustin Johnson has won 24 tournaments including two majors. His $74 million career earnings is third behind Tiger Woods $121 million and Phil Mickelson $95 million. It has been reported that DJ will earn $200 million just to play on the LIV tour.
The majors carry most of the prestige in golf and right now he is still eligible to play in them. Unless the PGA exerts pressure on those four tournaments. His only certain risk is playing in the Ryder Cup and potentially the Presidents Cup. But $200 million. And if more players defect, the PGA may have to capitulate.
It’s as simple as that. The real losers in this saga are golf fans (a bifurcated golf world where the best players are spread out will result in crappier viewing) and global morality
