LIV Golf Members on a 'Money Throne'... "How Much Have They Earned?"

Since Its Launch Last Year, 11 People Became 'Ten Millionaires'
3 Wins in Detention 'Life Turnaround'... 52.3 Billion KRW Jackpot
Up to 200 Million USD Transfer Fee 'Money Feast'

Sitting on a ‘money throne.’

Players who transferred to LIV Golf, established last year by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund (PIF), have earned enormous prize money in a short period. A total of 11 players became ‘millionaires.’ Since its launch, the much-debated LIV Golf league concluded its 2023 season last week with the LIV Golf Team Championship held at Trump National Doral Golf Club in Miami, Florida.

Over the past two years, LIV Golf held only 20 individual tournaments. LIV Golf set a staggering total prize money of $20 million for individual events, with a $4 million winner’s prize. The LIV Golf prize money ranking recently released by the U.S. golf media outlet Golfweek reflects pure individual event earnings, excluding team event prize money.

Taylor Gooch transferred to LIV Golf and earned an enormous prize money exceeding 50 billion won.

Taylor Gooch (USA) experienced a life-changing turnaround. Before, he had only one win on the PGA Tour and earned $9.25 million. After transferring to LIV Golf, he swept three wins this year alone. He earned $3,312,000 last year and $17,320,012 this year. The prize money he earned from just 13 tournaments this season is equivalent to the second-highest total on the PGA Tour’s 2022?2023 regular season money list. Jon Rahm (Spain), who won four tournaments last season, earned $16,522,608 in the regular season. Gooch’s total earnings over two years amount to $20,632,012 (approximately 27.9 billion KRW). And that’s not all. He was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) and received a bonus of $18 million. His total income soared to $38,632,012 (approximately 52.3 billion KRW).

Brooks Koepka won twice this year on the LIV Golf tour and also claimed victory at the major PGA Championship on the PGA Tour.

Players who had shown top-level skills on the PGA Tour also thrived. Dustin Johnson (USA, $19,314,945), Cameron Smith (Australia, $19,271,417), and Brooks Koepka (USA, $19,146,933) each earned over $19 million. ‘Major hunter’ Koepka also added $5,057,192 by competing in four PGA Tour events this year, including winning the major PGA Championship.

‘The Hulk’ Bryson DeChambeau (USA, $15,284,250), Brandon Grace (South Africa, $14,912,083), Patrick Reed ($12,957,047), Peter Uihlein (both USA, $12,026,416), Anirban Lahiri (India, $11,024,750), and Sergio Garcia (Spain, $10,365,917) followed in the LIV Golf prize money rankings. Harold Varner III (USA) accumulated $10,333,333. Ranked 11th in prize money, he caught the last train to the ‘millionaire club.’ Varner III earned $10,618,502 over 10 years on the PGA Tour without a win but joined the ranks of the wealthy within two years after moving to LIV Golf.

What’s even more surprising is that prize money accounts for only a small portion of the income players have earned from LIV Golf. At the time, LIV Golf paid huge signing bonuses to attract top players. Phil Mickelson (USA), who was the face of LIV Golf, reportedly received a $200 million (approximately 270.9 billion KRW) signing bonus. Johnson ($150 million), DeChambeau ($125 million), and Smith ($100 million) were among the top earners in signing bonuses. LIV Golf and the PGA Tour, which had been at odds, announced a surprise merger in June. Players who had faced criticism for transferring to LIV Golf are now returning to the PGA Tour stage with fat wallets.