Mickelson Faces '1 Trillion Won Penalty' if He Quits LIV Golf

US SI Reports 'Up to 4x Penalty'

Phil Mickelson (USA), a member of LIV Golf, is reportedly hampered by a huge penalty fee.

Phil Mickelson may have to pay a penalty of up to 1 trillion won if he withdraws from LIV Golf.

On the 29th (local time), Sports Illustrated reported, "LIV Golf players signed contracts that require them to pay back two to four times the signing bonus if they withdraw."

Mickelson, who received a $200 million (261.2 billion KRW) signing bonus, would have to pay back up to $800 million, over 1 trillion KRW, to return to the PGA Tour. Most players who joined LIV Golf want to return to the PGA Tour, but the huge penalty fees make it impossible.

Among them are the oldest major champion Mickelson, former world No. 1 Dustin Johnson, 'major hunter' Brooks Koepka, 'Hulk' Bryson DeChambeau, 'Masters champ' Patrick Reed (all from the USA), and Open Championship winner Cameron Smith (Australia), who all received signing bonuses around $100 million from LIV Golf, sponsored by Saudi Arabian oil capital.

If they want to withdraw from LIV Golf, they must return up to $400 million. No matter how large the prize money in LIV Golf tournaments is, players cannot cover the penalty fees, so they have no choice but to stick with LIV Golf. The LIV Golf contracts specify that players must participate in 10 to 14 tournaments per year, depending on the player.