Home/Golf

USA Today via Reuters

USA Today via Reuters

0
  Debate

Debate

Is loyalty to LIV Golf worth losing out on a $25 million payday?

The first iteration of the FedEx Cup playoffs is over, with Hideki Matsuyama crowned the champion. Meanwhile, the LIV Golf Greenbrier event ended in a thrilling playoff between Brooks Koepka and Jon Rahm. The PIF-funded side won’t return to action before September 13, by which time the FedEx Cup playoffs would end with the FedEx Champion receiving $25 million. While the field doesn’t lack firepower, a handful of LIV golfers with stellar records will be missed. One of them is still the most successful player in FedEx Cup playoff history.

Bryson DeChambeau 

The two-time major winner was a former champion of the FedEx St. Jude Championship. In the 2018 FedEx Cup playoff opener, no one could ever come close to the future Crushers captain. Bryson DeChambeau stacked two early birdies on his four-shot lead from Saturday. Although, he made two bogeys in the front nine, the back nine more than compensated for it, as DeChambeau ended with two birdies en route to a four-stroke triumph. The LIV golfer was also part of the memorable 2021 BMW Championship playoff against Patrick Cantlay. DeChambeau was 7th in his last full season on the Tour.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Jon Rahm

Jon Rahm gave the audience two of the most memorable duels in the history of the FedEx Cup playoffs. The first one came against Dustin Johnson at the 2020 BMW Championship. The two future LIV golfers locked horns in a thrilling bout, with the Spanish youngster emerging victorious. That was Rahm’s only victory in the FedEx Cup playoffs. The two-time major winner also fought with Patrick Cantlay at the Tour Championship next year. In a head-to-head battle, Cantlay emerged victorious by a margin of a stroke. Last year, Jon Rahm tied for 18th at the end of the FedEx Cup season, despite winning four times early that season.

via Getty

Patrick Reed

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Reed is a two-time champion of the FedEx St. Jude. The former major winner’s first victory came at the 2016 FedEx St. Jude Championship (then known as the Barclays). Reed erased a two-shot deficit to win by one stroke. Three years later, Patrick Reed once again managed a one-stroke victory against Abraham Ancer of Mexico at TPC Southwind. In his last full season on the PGA Tour, Patrick Reed finished 25th in the FedEx Cup table. 

What’s your perspective on:

Is loyalty to LIV Golf worth losing out on a $25 million payday?

Have an interesting take?

Dustin Johnson 

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

Despite being a LIV veteran now, Dustin Johnson still holds the record for most victories at the FedEx Cup Playoffs. In addition to the 2020 Tour Championship triumph, the 40-year-old has the BMW Championship twice (2010 and 2016). Moreover, the former Masters champion is also a three-time winner of the first leg of the playoffs, the FedEx St. Jude Championship (2011, 2017, 2021). The 4Aces captain managed an eight-place finish in his last full season on the PGA Tour. His six titles is yet to be matched by anyone in the PGA Tour.

Aside from these four, two other veterans, Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson have spectacular history at the Tour Championship. Lefty was part of the epic 2009 Tour Championship 2009, edging past eventual FedEx Cup champion, Tiger Woods, by three strokes. In a rare instance, then world no.1 and world no.2 made a podium finish. Stenson, on the other hand, lifted the FedEx Cup and the Tour Championship trophy simultaneously in 2013, a feat only a few have accomplished.