Bubba Watson Explains the Process LIV Golf Uses to Determine Sign-On Fees: “It’s Not Just Some Made-Up Number”
Regarding the alleged sign-on fee that golfers would get, some outrageous sums have been thrown around ever since the LIV Golf League began attempting to entice players to join its circuit.
Dustin Johnson reportedly made a $125 million payout in 2022, Phil Mickelson reportedly received approximately $200 million, while Jon Rahm recently moved to LIV for a reputed sum of over half a billion dollars.
Furthermore, two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson says that while it may seem to some that the stated numbers for the PGA Tour’s finest players have been drawn from thin air, or at least exaggerated beyond their true worth, this is not the case.
The captain of the Range Goats, who reportedly went to LIV for around $50 million, asserted that the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF) follows a “formula” to create a competitive offer.
In a video posted by X user @ProGolfCritic, Watson was heard on the Fore Play Podcast and stated: “When I went [to LIV], I’ve signed a lifetime deal with Ping, right? I had money because I had other sponsors. I had sponsors for watches and clothes. The funds are worthless. They’re not just sprinkling cash about. There is a formula that explains why this is given to so-and-so.
In actuality, there is a formula. These guys are astute businesspeople. PIF has succeeded because its members are astute in their fields. They own nearly all of the businesses that have ever been established in the US, right? They invest their money according to a formula. There’s a reason it’s a genuine number and not simply a made-up one.
Depending on your identity, they may have added 2% or 5% to the total. For me, they may have added 0.5%. Behind the scenes, we follow a formula; it’s not as simple as “here’s a check.” There’s a reason why that number is real.
A few unknown golfers have contacted LIV to inquire about joining, the 2012 and 2014 Masters champion revealed midway through his explanation of how customized offers are chosen for individual players. Watson referred to these figures as “random.”
He said: “There are some individuals on the [PGA] Tour that simply came up with arbitrary numbers, and the League is just like: “who are you?”
“There are some random numbers and you’re just like, ‘You haven’t even made that much in your career!'” I would never call those folks out. I know a sponsor isn’t paying you that much, so just give it a minute.”
John Daly is one player who “would have been perfect” for the 54-hole, no-cut circuit and would have switched to LIV for the money. Drawing attention to what he perceived as PGA Tour and LIV money discussion that was hypocritical, Daly stated that there is “no difference” between his getting paid to play in Europe in the 1990s and the modern-day golfer making millions of dollars by moving to LIV.
The two-time Major champion has long admired the League, which is supported by the PIF, and he even said that he “begged” CEO Greg Norman to invite him.
Daly added, “I think it’s great,” referring to LIV. Had I been in the game! I thought Finchem, the previous commissioner of the PGA Tour, would say something like, “Okay, look, guys.
Go play it [if] you play your fifteen tournaments. On the ordinary circuit, we have to play 15 [events], and on the Champions circuit, I believe it’s 11 or 12. When you’re done, let’s go play somewhere.
“I believe the game of golf is expanding. I won’t remain here and remain silent. I was paid a lot of money to travel and perform at events in Europe; how is this different from LIV? Nothing is different.
