The Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitation Series tees off at the Centurion Club in Hertfordshire on Thursday after a controversial and turbulent build-up.
Criticism from golf fans, officials on the established PGA and European Tours and human rights activists have not prevented the likes of Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson from signing up for the upstart event, which is being fronted by two-time major winner Greg Norman.
Johnson and Na this week resigned from the PGA Tour and, for all Graeme McDowell’s talk of wanting to help golf “grow around the world and be role models to kids” at a frequently cringe-inducing media briefing on Tuesday, there can be little doubt that eye-watering financial rewards are the main motivation for those joining the breakaway.
Phil Mickelson reportedly inked a deal worth $200 million to spurn his PGA Tour commitment and Norman told the Washington Post that Tiger Woods turned down a LIV Golf offer that was “mind-blowingly enormous; we’re talking about high nine digits.”
Of course, those numbers aren’t on offer for just anyone, but here’s what the participants stand to make from hitching their wagons to the divisive championship.
LIV Golf Series tournament purses 2022
The total purse for each LIV Golf Invitational Series tournament is $25 million (?20 million). Of that $25 million, $5 million will be awarded to teams while $20 million will go to the individual players.
The Team Championship, which will take place during the eighth and final series event of the season, will dish out an additional $50 million.
For comparison, the Masters and PGA Championship, two crown jewels of the the PGA calendar, had purses of $15 million apiece in 2022.