OT Jon Rahm Defects to LIV for 600 Million

[Gamecock72]

Jon Rahm is set to earn at least SIX TIMES more with LIV Golf than he did in his entire career on the PGA Tour... as Masters champion prepares to sign $600m deal with Saudi's rebel circuit
By OLIVER SALT FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Jon Rahm is on the verge of becoming the latest golf star to cut ties with the PGA Tour and head to Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

And in doing so, the Masters champion will reportedly rake in at least six times more cash than he did in his entire career with the PGA.

According to Front Office Sports, Rahm has been offered up to $600 million to ditch the PGA Tour and sign with Saudi's rebel circuit, with the deal expected to bring him a minimum of $500m.

That figure dwarfs the money he has collected during his PGA career, having taken home $77m across his eight years on the tour.

The blockbuster figure would be the biggest paycheck LIV has shelled out if it is successful in securing the two-time major winner's signature.

It is also a dramatic increase on the figure Rahm is believed to have initially been offered after he reportedly rejected a $300m deal ahead of the breakaway’s inaugural season in 2022.

Rahm, who won his first Masters earlier this year, is LIV Golf's latest target as it continues aggressively poaching the world's top golfers, despite its current, albeit seemingly insecure, truce with the PGA Tour.

Phil Mickelson, the breakaway's chief rebel, is thought to currently be the biggest benefactor of LIV's lucrative signing-on deals, reportedly accepting an offer of $200m last year.

Meanwhile, major winners Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson are all believed to have signed deals worth $100m-plus.

However, LIV Golf failed in what would have been its most stunning coup when Tiger Woods rejected a reported offer of $800m.

In a major blow for Woods and Rory McIlroy, Rahm has also pulled out of their new TGL golf venture.

The Spaniard was one of 24 golfers committed to the tech-infused TGL tournament that is scheduled to commence in January, pitting the leading stars of the game against each other in a virtual format.

However, in a move that will spark some uncertainty around his future, and comes amid a blaze of promotion for the initiative, Rahm has suddenly withdrawn.

He said: ’I am sad to confirm that I will not be participating in the first TGL season.



‘While I still think it's a great opportunity, right now it would require a level of commitment I can't offer

 

[Creek Snake]

How could he possibly turn this down.Playing less golf for an incredible amount of money.
Also Jason Day reportedly going as well.So another past major winner.

 

[18IsTheMan]

How could he possibly turn this down.Playing less golf for an incredible amount of money.
Also Jason Day reportedly going as well.So another past major winner.

I've found it quite odd that some folks have decried PGA golfers leaving for LIV while at the same time advocating college football players transferring to chase NIL money.

 

[Gamecock72]

Supposedly, he is getting his own LIV team and going to bring 3 others over from PGA to play on his team.

 

[Gamecock72]

I am happy to see him join. I have been a big LIV golf fan from the start.

 

[Viennacock]

Surprised based on some of his prior comments. I guess everyone has their price.

I do watch the PGA but don't keep up with all the details. Weren't the two tours combining?

 

[SSIGamecock]

Surprised based on some of his prior comments. I guess everyone has their price.

I do watch the PGA but don't keep up with all the details. Weren't the two tours combining?

not combining, but they formed essentially an ownership group to connect the PGA, DP World Tour and LIV. There still isn't the okay for LIV players to participate in PGA and DP World Tour Events or gain World Golf Rankings from LIV events though.

I expect with Rahm leaving, along with a few other expected big names, the above mentioned penalties for joining LIV will end up going away. There's only so much they can take of losing these huge names/brands. I figure by 2025 players that have left for the LIV will have access to at least some PGA events or there will be some crossover events, and the guys who stayed on the PGA tour will be really pissed because they turned down HUGE amounts of money...

The best part is, the PGA and the media fueled all sorts of bs about human rights issues with LIV ownership, etc, while no one mentioned their huge sponsors such as Apple or Amazon or Nike, which have had a few human rights issues of their own. And now, they are in bed together, and LIV is up and coming, and no one seems to care about the human rights issues anymore...

 

[Viennacock]

not combining, but they formed essentially an ownership group to connect the PGA, DP World Tour and LIV. There still isn't the okay for LIV players to participate in PGA and DP World Tour Events or gain World Golf Rankings from LIV events though.

I expect with Rahm leaving, along with a few other expected big names, the above mentioned penalties for joining LIV will end up going away. There's only so much they can take of losing these huge names/brands. I figure by 2025 players that have left for the LIV will have access to at least some PGA events or there will be some crossover events, and the guys who stayed on the PGA tour will be really pissed because they turned down HUGE amounts of money...

The best part is, the PGA and the media fueled all sorts of bs about human rights issues with LIV ownership, etc, while no one mentioned their huge sponsors such as Apple or Amazon or Nike, which have had a few human rights issues of their own. And now, they are in bed together, and LIV is up and coming, and no one seems to care about the human rights issues anymore...

Thanks for all the info. Can't blame these guys for taking the money. I also can't blame players for defecting into the portal for more money.

 

[Gamecock72]

not combining, but they formed essentially an ownership group to connect the PGA, DP World Tour and LIV. There still isn't the okay for LIV players to participate in PGA and DP World Tour Events or gain World Golf Rankings from LIV events though.

I expect with Rahm leaving, along with a few other expected big names, the above mentioned penalties for joining LIV will end up going away. There's only so much they can take of losing these huge names/brands. I figure by 2025 players that have left for the LIV will have access to at least some PGA events or there will be some crossover events, and the guys who stayed on the PGA tour will be really pissed because they turned down HUGE amounts of money...

The best part is, the PGA and the media fueled all sorts of bs about human rights issues with LIV ownership, etc, while no one mentioned their huge sponsors such as Apple or Amazon or Nike, which have had a few human rights issues of their own. And now, they are in bed together, and LIV is up and coming, and no one seems to care about the human rights issues anymore...

LIV guys can't play in PGAT events but can play in DPWT events. The last two weeks the DPWT had LIV players win 3 of their tournaments. Joaquín Niemann won this past weekend's Australian Open and Dean Burmester won the South African Open Championship this past weekend and the Joburg Open the weekend before.

 

[SSIGamecock]

LIV guys can't play in PGAT events but can play in DPWT events. The last two weeks the DPWT had LIV players win 3 of their tournaments. Joaquín Niemann won this past weekend's Australian Open and Dean Burmester won the South African Open Championship this past weekend and the Joburg Open the weekend before.

Didn't realize that. Seems like it was a recent development. I guess that part changed when they all merged?

 

[Gamecock72]

Didn't realize that. Seems like it was a recent development. I guess that part changed when they all merged?

They have never been banned from the DPWT. I believe they had to drop the membership to it, and that is why no LIV players could play in the Ryder Cup on the European side. That side is directly tied to the DPWT but the US side is not tide to the PGAT so American LIV guys were not disqualified for it and why Brooks played in it.

 

[Creek Snake]

For some reason I seem to be drawn to the rebel leagues.I was an AFL fan,and ABA fan so I guess I’m pulling for LIV do well.FWIW I pulled for Rick Flair and the other bad guys on Mid Atlantic Wrestling.

 

[SSIGamecock]

They have never been banned from the DPWT. I believe they had to drop the membership to it, and that is why no LIV players could play in the Ryder Cup on the European side. That side is directly tied to the DPWT but the US side is not tide to the PGAT so American LIV guys were not disqualified for it and why Brooks played in it.

I knew the Ryder Cup reasoning for Brooks. Just thought they were banned from DPWT as well. Thanks for the info!

 

[Gamecock72]

For some reason I seem to be drawn to the rebel leagues.I was an AFL fan,and ABA fan so I guess I’m pulling for LIV do well.FWIW I pulled for Rick Flair and the other bad guys on Mid Atlantic Wrestling.

The main reason I got into LIV was Dustin Johnson. And I have really enjoyed the events. I love the shotgun start part of it. Really speeds up the round. I know some traditionalists don't care for it, and that is fine, but I really like it. I also love the team part of it. I am always wearing my Four Aces LIV Golf hat. And they had a great trade today, traded Peter Uihlein to the Range Goats in return for Harold Varner III.

 

[Yemacock]

Jon Rahm is set to earn at least SIX TIMES more with LIV Golf than he did in his entire career on the PGA Tour... as Masters champion prepares to sign $600m deal with Saudi's rebel circuit
By OLIVER SALT FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Jon Rahm is on the verge of becoming the latest golf star to cut ties with the PGA Tour and head to Saudi-backed LIV Golf.

And in doing so, the Masters champion will reportedly rake in at least six times more cash than he did in his entire career with the PGA.

According to Front Office Sports, Rahm has been offered up to $600 million to ditch the PGA Tour and sign with Saudi's rebel circuit, with the deal expected to bring him a minimum of $500m.

That figure dwarfs the money he has collected during his PGA career, having taken home $77m across his eight years on the tour.

The blockbuster figure would be the biggest paycheck LIV has shelled out if it is successful in securing the two-time major winner's signature.

It is also a dramatic increase on the figure Rahm is believed to have initially been offered after he reportedly rejected a $300m deal ahead of the breakaway’s inaugural season in 2022.

Rahm, who won his first Masters earlier this year, is LIV Golf's latest target as it continues aggressively poaching the world's top golfers, despite its current, albeit seemingly insecure, truce with the PGA Tour.

Phil Mickelson, the breakaway's chief rebel, is thought to currently be the biggest benefactor of LIV's lucrative signing-on deals, reportedly accepting an offer of $200m last year.

Meanwhile, major winners Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson are all believed to have signed deals worth $100m-plus.

However, LIV Golf failed in what would have been its most stunning coup when Tiger Woods rejected a reported offer of $800m.

In a major blow for Woods and Rory McIlroy, Rahm has also pulled out of their new TGL golf venture.

The Spaniard was one of 24 golfers committed to the tech-infused TGL tournament that is scheduled to commence in January, pitting the leading stars of the game against each other in a virtual format.

However, in a move that will spark some uncertainty around his future, and comes amid a blaze of promotion for the initiative, Rahm has suddenly withdrawn.

He said: ’I am sad to confirm that I will not be participating in the first TGL season.



‘While I still think it's a great opportunity, right now it would require a level of commitment I can't offer

I would do it and like it.

 

[Gamecock72]

Rahm not in initial AmEx field as LIV rumors swirl

Two-time American Express champion Jon Rahm wasn't among the early commitments for next month's event, as rumors continue to circle that the world No. 3 will leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf. Rahm has not commented on his future in recent weeks.

www.espn.com

Sources: Masters champ Jon Rahm leaving PGA Tour for LIV Golf
Mark Schlabach

In a deal that could have a far-reaching impact on the future landscape of men's professional golf and inject even more uncertainty into an already-fractured sport, Masters champion Jon Rahm has agreed to leave the PGA Tour for the Saudi Arabian-financed LIV Golf League, sources confirmed to ESPN on Thursday.

LIV Golf is expected to announce Rahm's addition Thursday, barring a last-minute change of heart from the former world No. 1 player, the sources said.

The deal is believed to be longer than three years, is worth more than $300 million and will include an ownership stake for Rahm in a new LIV Golf team, according to sources. LIV Golf is recruiting additional PGA Tour players to fill out the roster of Rahm's team.

Rahm's decision comes at a time when the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund are attempting to hammer out the final details of a framework agreement that would combine their commercial interests into a new for-profit entity, PGA Tour Enterprises.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, governor of the PIF, are scheduled to meet next week. PIF has spent more than $3 billion funding the LIV Golf League the past two seasons. The framework agreement is set to expire Dec. 31; Monahan called the date a "firm deadline" last week.

The framework agreement gives Monahan authority to determine the future of LIV Golf, which has struggled to gain a foothold in the U.S. but has generated significant interest in Australia, Singapore, Spain and other countries. Sources told ESPN that the future of LIV Golf and whether team golf has a place in the sport's future ecosystem have emerged as sticking points for the Saudis during negotiations.

It's unclear how Rahm's defection will impact the proposed alliance. LIV Golf's ability to poach a player of Rahm's caliber would seem to give the Saudis leverage in negotiations, as the PGA Tour is also entertaining offers from a handful of U.S.-based investors.

The June 6 framework agreement included a clause that prohibited both sides from attempting to poach each other's players, but it was removed after the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division raised concerns that it restricted competition.

A conglomerate led by Fenway Sports Group, which owns the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Penguins, is among the final potential bidders, sources told ESPN. So are Liberty Media Corporation, which has ownership stakes in Formula One, Sirius XM and the Atlanta Braves, and Acorn Growth Companies, an Oklahoma City-based equity group that had previously focused on the aerospace and defense industries.

Sources previously told ESPN that the PGA Tour could form a partnership with both PIF and a U.S.-based equity firm because of concerns that a PIF-only deal would not be approved by federal regulators in the U.S. and abroad.

Rahm is the second reigning major championship winner to leave the PGA Tour for the LIV Golf League at the height of his career. In August 2022, Australia's Cameron Smith signed with LIV Golf about six weeks after he picked up his first major championship at the 150th Open Championship at St. Andrews Links in Scotland.

Rahm, 29, won 11 times on the PGA Tour and collected more than $51.5 million in on-course earnings during his career. This past season, he won four times and pocketed about $16.5 million in purses. He is a finalist for PGA Tour Player of the Year.

Rahm joins LIV Golf's roster of captains that also includes past major championship winners Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Bubba Watson and Henrik Stenson.

Rahm's decision comes less than eight months after he became the fourth Spaniard to win a green jacket at the Masters, defeating Mickelson and Koepka by 4 strokes at Augusta National Golf Club on April 9. That victory might have made Rahm's decision to join LIV Golf easier, as he earned a lifetime exemption into the Masters and five-year exemptions into the PGA Championship and The Open.

Rahm already has a spot in the U.S. Open field through 2031 after winning his first major at the 2021 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California.

The governing bodies that stage the major championships -- Augusta National Golf Club (Masters), PGA of America (PGA Championship), R&A (The Open) and United States Golf Association (U.S. Open) -- have largely remained on the sideline during the ongoing battle between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf and haven't prohibited players from either circuit from playing in their tournaments.

PIF officials have been recruiting Rahm for months, according to sources. He hasn't criticized the LIV Golf League like many PGA Tour players have, in part because of his friendship with Mickelson and past Ryder Cup teammates such as Sergio Garcia. Mickelson's brother and caddie, Tim, was Rahm's coach at Arizona State and his first agent. Mickelson and Rahm are represented by the same agent, Steve Loy of SportFive.

Still, Rahm's decision is a stunning about-face for a 22-time worldwide winner who is considered one of the fiercest competitors in the game. Before the 2022 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, Rahm was asked about his interest in joining the upstart circuit.

"Yeah, money is great, but when [his wife] Kelly and I, this first thing happened, we started talking about it and we're like, 'Would our lifestyle change if we got $400 million?' No," Rahm said. "It would not change one bit. Truth be told, I could retire right now and I could live a very happy life and not play golf again. I've never really played the game of golf for monetary reasons. I play for the love of the game, and I want to play against the best in the world."

Rahm talked about his desire to play in the tournaments with history and tradition, including the majors and PGA Tour invitationals.

"I have always been interested in history and legacy, and right now the PGA Tour has that," Rahm said. "There's a meaning when you win the Memorial Championship. There's a meaning when you win Arnold Palmer's event at Bay Hill. There's a meaning when you win L.A., Torrey, some of these historic venues. That to me matters a lot. After winning this past U.S. Open, only me and Tiger [Woods] have won at Torrey Pines. Making putts on 18 -- that's a memory that I'm going to have forever that not many people can say."

Before the Ryder Cup in Italy earlier this year, after Rahm voiced his support for Garcia and other LIV Golf players being allowed to compete for the European team, he was asked again about his interest in LIV Golf by a Spanish-language podcast.

"Phil Mickelson respects my decision and I respect his decision," Rahm said. "He has told me that I have no reason to go to LIV. And he has told me that several times. I laugh when people rumor me with LIV. I've never liked the format."

But now the LIV Golf League, with its 54-hole format, team and individual competitions and shotgun starts, has a new face of its league. As a two-time major championship winner and one of the best players in the world, Rahm is one who brings instant credibility.

"I'm not sure specifically how it would impact those negotiations, but all in all, Jon Rahm is one of the biggest assets that we have on the PGA Tour," PGA Tour player director Jordan Spieth said at last week's Hero World Challenge. "So it would really be not very good for us in general, because we want to play against the best players in the world, and that's what Jon is."

 

[Beehaver]

The main reason I got into LIV was Dustin Johnson. And I have really enjoyed the events. I love the shotgun start part of it. Really speeds up the round. I know some traditionalists don't care for it, and that is fine, but I really like it. I also love the team part of it. I am always wearing my Four Aces LIV Golf hat. And they had a great trade today, traded Peter Uihlein to the Range Goats in return for Harold Varner III.

Agree ...but please DROP the music ! That is a real turn off for me.

 

[Beehaver]

Now Rory and Ricky and Victor are the only players left that I pull for on the PGA tour

 

[Uscg1984]

I've found it quite odd that some folks have decried PGA golfers leaving for LIV while at the same time advocating college football players transferring to chase NIL money.

Are you sure they are the same folks?

 

[KingWard]

You can't blame people for taking the money. But anyone who doesn't think that the spiritual fiber of competitive golf has been rent in twain by this isn't a very deep thinker. Professional was a sport where you had to earn your keep continuously. Not anymore.

 

[gamecox4982]

If not for Saudi billions there is no way LIV survives with their terrible ratings.

 

[Kpmack]

Do not like the Saudi’s. Will never watch that league. Good for him on getting $600m. That’s a lot of money. Damn them.

 

[Battleship Texas]

If not for Saudi billions there is no way LIV survives with their terrible ratings.

Duh. But it is backed by Saudi billions. They don't care about profit.

 

[Forkcock]

Some whores make big money. They’re still whores though.

 

[ToddFlanders]

Duh. But it is backed by Saudi billions. They don't care about profit.

Exactly. With the sheer volume of money they are putting up front, they couldn't be profitable in any of the current LIV golfer's lifetimes. And quite possibly not for several generations of golfers. But none of this is about profit, or golf for that matter.

 

[Cackmandu]

Exactly. With the sheer volume of money they are putting up front, they couldn't be profitable in any of the current LIV golfer's lifetimes. And quite possibly not for several generations of golfers. But none of this is about profit, or golf for that matter.

So what am I missing, am I that naive to not think it's plainly politics? Destroy the game? Launder money?

 

[ToddFlanders]

So what am I missing, am I that naive to not think it's plainly politics? Destroy the game? Launder money?

I think at its core it's politics. I had never heard the term "sports washing" prior to this, but I do think the Saudis are trying to diversify their portfolio so they aren't just known for oil and terrorism. The money laundering could be a good piece of this as well. This would be a really easy way to clean funds tied to terrorism. $300 million for a golfer before he's ever in a tournament? With no concern for ever making that money back?

 

[Gamecock72]

Agree ...but please DROP the music ! That is a real turn off for me.

I could go either way on the music. Does not really bother me that much but I can see where others might not care for it.

 

[Gamecock72]

You can't blame people for taking the money. But anyone who doesn't think that the spiritual fiber of competitive golf has been rent in twain by this isn't a very deep thinker. Professional was a sport where you had to earn your keep continuously. Not anymore.

You do realize that if you do not play well, you get the boot from LIV? Just ask Brooks Koepkas's brother about that. There are a good bit of players who played LIV23 that will not be playing LIV in 2024. Only the top 27 on the year-end points are guaranteed a spot the following season. And they had a qualifying tournament this past weekend where 3 players earned a spot on LIV 2024. That means they take the spot of 3 LIV players who will have lost their spot on the LIV tour. So to say they do not have to earn their spots on LIV is just not true.

 

[Gamecock72]

https://www.golfmonthly.com/news/to...otiations-to-sign-for-jon-rahms-liv-golf-team
Tony Finau Reportedly In Negotiations To Join LIV Golf
The American could be the next high-profile name to leave the PGA Tour after Rahm's big-money switch on Thursday
BY JONNY LEIGHFIELD

Tony Finau could be the latest name to leave the PGA Tour in favour of the LIV Golf League, according to multiple reports.

The Telegraph is claiming Finau has already begun discussions about becoming the second member of Jon Rahm's as-yet-unnamed LIV Golf team - following the Spaniard's extraordinary switch on Thursday - and could be in line for a near-$70 million deal.

The 34-year-old won twice last season - lifting the Houston Open and the Mexico Open - while claiming $5,867,652 in prize money after missing only four cuts. He did only manage one top-10, however, after success in Mexico in late-April and recorded a best finish of T26 at a Major (The Masters).

Finau and Rahm are neighbours in Arizona and regularly practiced together when not competing on the PGA Tour. Should the World No. 21 agree a move, it would see the pair reunited on the 54-hole circuit ahead of the 2024 campaign.

The British newspaper also stated that it understood one of the conditions in Rahm's contract is that the World No. 3 could pick at least one "ally" to play alongside him, but if other reports which suggest several more PGA Tour players are set to follow, then the current Masters champion may be allowed further choice.

GolfWRX's Matt Vincenzi posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Finau will be joining LIV Golf "imminently" before later clarifying he believed confirmation to be a week or two away.

These stories arrived just days after Finau remained tight-lipped over any talk of LIV at the Grant Thornton Invitational, where he is playing with American juggernaut Nelly Korda in the mixed team event.

"I have nothing to say right now. I haven’t heard anything," Finau said when asked about the rumours.

When pressed further if he had any further response, the American said: “No, not yet. I haven’t let anything marinate other than just playing right now.”

Speaking to Sports Illustrated about Rahm's departure, the six-time PGA Tour winner added: “Yeah, I think he made the best decision that he felt was right for his family and himself. I'm happy for him."

Talk about Finau and others potentially moving from the PGA Tour to LIV Golf League comes days before the two tours' respective leaders - Jay Monahan and Yasir Al-Rumayyan - are set to meet for crunch discussions about a potential merger.

The PGA Tour commissioner and PIF boss Al-Rumayyan shook hands on that bombshell deal back in June, but nothing has progressed beyond that framework agreement ahead of the deal's deadline on December 31. With that date fast approaching, the upcoming meeting must produce some kind of breakthrough if that date is not to be extended.

But speaking recently, Monahan suggested he was confident some kind of deal would be completed with the PIF and a third party.

Monahan said: “When this gets finalized, the PGA Tour is going to be in a position that the athletes are owners in their sport, and you've got not only the PIF, but you've likely got another co-investor, with significant experience in business, in sport and brand that's going to help take the PGA Tour to another level and help us take share from other sports and even be more competitive."

 

[Gamecock72]

 

[Gamecock72]

 

[Gamecock72]

Lois Oosthuizen makes it 4 DPWT event wins in a row for LIV Golfers.

Deam Brumester winds the Joburg Open and South African Open
Also, Joaquin Niemann won the Australian Open.

Good to see LIV Golfers once again proving they are still among the best golfers in the world.

 

[Gamecock72]

 

[Gamecock72]

Speaking of Blood Money lol

https://progolfweekly.com/entire-pg...1&fbclid=IwAR28c9IW7DVqWfGGAC17JewR0O2LDVgL1w



Entire PGA Tour Playoffs Sponsored By Saudi Arabia-Allied Brands
Posted By Jeff Smith - August 18, 2022

The PGA Tour has regularly attacked the LIV Golf series for being funded by Saudi Arabia. According to the Tour’s allied smear merchants, the checks earned by the likes of Dustin Johnson and Bryson DeChambeau are said to be “blood money.”

Commissioner Jay Monahan even refuses to call it LIV Golf, instead opting for ‘The Saudi Golf League’ as a way to foreignize/otherize the startup league.

Yet, if you look at the U.S. tour’s title sponsors, a majority have business relations with Saudi Arabia, and/or footprints inside the Kingdom.

In fact, the PGA Tour’s big-money postseason – the three-tournament series – is entirely title-sponsored by brands with a presence in the Kingdom.

For instance, the Tour’s biggest of all brands, FedEx – the title sponsor of the season-long FedEx Cup race and the postseason’s first tournament (FedEx St Jude Championship), has a “direct presence in Saudi Arabia,” according to tweet last year.

Then you have this week’s BMW Championship, the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs. The German automaker also has a footprint in Saudi Arabia, including its own official Twitter account. Will the winner this week in Delaware earn “blood money?”

Next week is the Tour Championship Presented by Coca-Cola, which also has a super-sized footprint in the Saudi Kingdom.

To recap, the three events which comprise the PGA Tour’s season-ending flagship series are all title sponsored by Saudi Arabia-allied companies (FedEx, BMW and Coca-Cola).

You can’t make it up. And that’s just the start.

The Tour’s flagship tournament, The PLAYERS Championship, has three presenting sponsors which it calls “Proud Partners.” They are: Grant Thornton, Optum and Morgan Stanley. All three do big business with the Saudis.

The Tour then has what’s called the Invitational series, a three-tournament series with each event attached to one of its three icons: Genesis Invitational (Tiger Woods), The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard (Arnold Palmer) and the Memorial Tournament Presented by Workday (Jack Nicklaus).

You guessed it: all three tournament sponsors are brands (Genesis, Mastercard, Workday) doing business in Saudi Arabia.

Finally, we have the WGC-Dell Match Play, the tour’s eighth and final (non-major) marquee event. Take a bow if you guessed that Dell Technologies can be found in Saudi Arabia!

LIV Golf CEO, Greg Norman, recently trolled the anti-LIV media with the following questions: “Why does the PGA Tour have 23 sponsors doing 40 plus billion dollars worth of business with Saudi Arabia? Why is it okay for the sponsors?

“Will Jay Monahan go to each and every one of those CEOs of the 23 companies that are investing into Saudi Arabia and suspend them and ban them?

“The hypocrisy in all this, it’s so loud. It’s deafening.”

It’s also mind blowing.

Below are the 27 PGA Tour events with title or presenting sponsors that do business with Saudi Arabia:

1. 3M Open (3M)
2. Arnold Palmer Invitational (Mastercard)
3. AT&T Pebble Beach (AT&T)
4. AT&T Byron Nelson (AT&T)
5. Barbasol Championship (Barbasol)
6. Barracuda Championship (Barracuda)
7. BMW Championship (BMW)
8. Charles Schwab Challenge (Charles Schwab)
9. FedEx St Jude Championship (FedEx)
10. Fortinet Championship (Fortinet)
11. Genesis Invitational (Genesis)
12. Genesis Scottish Open (Genesis)
13. Hero World Challenge (Hero)
14. John Deere Classic (John Deere)
15. RBC Canadian Open (RBC)
16. RBC Heritage (RBC)
17. Sony Open of Hawaii (Sony)
18. The American Express (American Express)
19. The Honda Classic (Honda)
20. the Memorial Tournament (Workday)
21. The PLAYERS Championship (Grant Thornton, Morgan Stanley, Optum)
22. The RSM Classic (RSM)
23. The TOUR Championship (Coca-Cola)
24. Valero Texas Open (Valero)
25. Valspar Championship (Valspar)
26. WGC-Dell Match Play (Dell Technologies)
27. Wyndham Championship (Wyndham)

The four major championships do not have title sponsors but do use presenting type sponsorships, similar to the PLAYERS’ ‘Proud Partners.’ Almost every single “partner” of the four majors does business in the Kingdom.

• The Masters (AT&T, IBM, Mercedes-Benz)
• PGA Championship (AIG, Chase, Club Car, KitchenAid, KPMG, Pepsi, Rolex)
• U.S. Open (American Express, Cisco, Deloitte, Lexus, Rolex)
• The Open (HSBC, Hugo Boss, Mastercard, Mercedes-Benz, NTT Data, Nikon, Rolex)

 

[KingWard]

You do realize that if you do not play well, you get the boot from LIV? Just ask Brooks Koepkas's brother about that. There are a good bit of players who played LIV23 that will not be playing LIV in 2024. Only the top 27 on the year-end points are guaranteed a spot the following season. And they had a qualifying tournament this past weekend where 3 players earned a spot on LIV 2024. That means they take the spot of 3 LIV players who will have lost their spot on the LIV tour. So to say they do not have to earn their spots on LIV is just not true.

The upfront money more than makes up for any elimination peril. A shrewd person should be set for life.

Are they still playing 54-hole events? In that case, they don't even work hard for the money.

 

[Gamecock72]

The upfront money more than makes up for any elimination peril. A shrewd person should be set for life.

Are they still playing 54-hole events? In that case, they don't even work hard for the money.

Yep, but not all of them get that kind of up front money and many get no upfront money.

I get people not caring about the 54-hole thing and personally, I could not care less about being 54 or 72. However, they have stated that that is something they would be willing to compromise on to get points. Selfishly, I would not mind them adding a round, it would be another round for me to watch.

There have been some talks that part of the negotiations with Jon Raham included some tweaks to the format, but I have no clue what those could be.

They work plenty hard for the money, even if only 54 holes. And they are just as competitive with each other as they are on any PGAT event.

And the community they all seem to have with each other is pretty awesome to watch. I never thought I would have ever seen Brooks and Bryson come together as they have now to the point they are really great friends.

 

[KingWard]

Yep, but not all of them get that kind of up front money and many get no upfront money.

I get people not caring about the 54-hole thing and personally, I could not care less about being 54 or 72. However, they have stated that that is something they would be willing to compromise on to get points. Selfishly, I would not mind them adding a round, it would be another round for me to watch.

There have been some talks that part of the negotiations with Jon Raham included some tweaks to the format, but I have no clue what those could be.

They work plenty hard for the money, even if only 54 holes. And they are just as competitive with each other as they are on any PGAT event.

And the community they all seem to have with each other is pretty awesome to watch. I never thought I would have ever seen Brooks and Bryson come together as they have now to the point they are really great friends.

You love the LIV; I get it. But it's a gravy train compared to the PGA Tour. You and I both know it. If it weren't, these guys wouldn't be bolting, now would they?

 

[Forkcock]

Freddie nailed it.

Fred Couples has 2 spicy words for Jon Rahm, LIV defectors

Fred Couples has no problem with Jon Rahm's defection to LIV, but he had spicy words for those who claim he left for virtuous reasons.

golf.com

 

[Gamecock72]

Looks like LIV is in talks about changing from 54 holes to 72 holes. That was one of the items that it was rumored that Rahm had negotiated to happen for him to come over to LIV.