The unexplainable merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf came as a shock to millions of fans across the world. After all, with the never-ending banter between the two leagues, no one could have expected such a situation.
Although it is astonishing for the fans, it is all the more devastating for numerous PGA Tour players, especially the ones who rejected massive offers to join the Saudi-backed league earlier. In fact, a few golfers on the American Tour are probably regretting their decision to let go of the hefty paychecks offered by LIV Golf last year. But how much did these players actually lose?
PGA Tour players and the LIV Golf deals they rejected
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LIV Golf successfully took away some of the best players on the PGA Tour last year with their undeniable offers. Players including Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, etc. happily accepted the money-driven deals and left behind their PGA Tour history for the same. However, there were some who decided to stay back and protect their legacies from the former Tour.
Tiger Woods and several others, including Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, also received similar, if not bigger, offers than Mickelson and his fellows. However, they decided to choose legacy over money and lost the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to add millions of dollars to their respective net worths. Nevertheless, with the recent $3 billion merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf, it is safe to say that the Tour loyalists have no choice but to comply with the Saudi-funded league as well! But how big were the offers that these players rejected?
As per several sources, Tiger Woods received an alleged $800 million offer to join LIV Golf, which he refused to accept. While Rory McIlroy was offered $500 million, Jon Rahm allegedly dismissed a $400 million offer from the league. Other players, including Hideki Matsuyama, Will Zalatoris, and Patrick Cantlay, also received offers worth $300 million, $130 million, and $100 million respectively. But none of them were willing to give up their PGA Tour memberships for the huge deals! Notably, all these players collectively turned down over $1,500,000,000 from Greg Norman’s tour. But with the inevitable fusion of the leagues, did their decisions actually make a difference?
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Is the merger fair to the PGA Tour stars?
After several PGA Tour stars rejected LIV Golf offers, former POTUS Donald Trump made a statement about these players and their loyalty to the American Tour. In his statements, Trump said that the players refusing to accept LIV Golf offers will have to pay a huge price when the ‘inevitable’ merger between the leagues arrives.
Noticeably, this is exactly what is happening. The PGA Tour stars are now in a dilemma about the legacy-led decisions and are probably wondering if they should have accepted the offer in the first place. Do you think it is fair to Woods and the other Tour players for the PGA Tour to shake hands with LIV Golf? Let us know in the comments section!
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