Golf is stepping into a whole new era, and no, it’s not about a long-awaited rivalry coming to an end. For the first time, the sport’s prize purse has gone digital—welcome to the world of cryptocurrency. “The Showdown,“ in Las Vegas was set to be a thrilling face-off, with PGA Tour stars Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler going head-to-head against LIV Golf’s Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka. The $10 million purse isn’t just a staggering amount—it’s being paid entirely in cryptocurrency.

After PGA Tour pros won, and were offered two black boxes at the prize distribution ceremony, it was Scottie Scheffler’s reaction that got people talking. When asked where prize money in crypto fits into his portfolio, the World No. 1 delivered a line we can all relate to: “You know, I don’t know a whole lot about crypto, but this is good motivation to do some research…and ask you a couple questions.”

Classic Scheffler—keeping it real while cracking us up. His honesty probably hit home for a lot of fans still wrapping their heads around this whole crypto thing. Now, for someone who has a career earning of over $71 million on the Tour, we are sure he will find some place for crypto in his lucrative portfolio.

But this isn’t just a fun gimmick; it’s a serious move by Crypto.com, the event’s title sponsor. If you don’t know, they’re kind of a big deal in the digital finance world, with over 100 million users, support for 350+ cryptocurrencies, and a jaw-dropping $13 billion valuation. Now, they’re making history by sponsoring the first golf event where the prize purse is fully paid in their CRO cryptocurrency (Cronos, for the uninitiated). Bryson DeChambeau summed it up best: “It is beyond exciting to have Crypto.com on board to provide a true first with a cryptocurrency-based prize purse.” 

And it’s not just about the purse. Crypto.com reportedly dropped $8–$10 million just to sponsor The Showdown. So, what does this all mean? Well, golf is getting a little techy, and fans are getting a peek at what the future might hold—blockchains and birdies, anyone? And as for Scheffler, let’s just say he’s got some Googling to do.

Digitalization in sports finance isn’t exactly new

Nearly five years ago, former NFL offensive lineman Russell Okung stirred things up with a simple tweet: “Pay me in Bitcoin.” Fast forward 18 months, and he made it happen—kind of. While the Carolina Panthers technically paid him in U.S. dollars, Okung took a bold step and used a crypto app called Strike to convert half of his $13 million salary into Bitcoin.  It turned out to be a pretty smart move. Back in 2020, Bitcoin was worth about $27,000. Fast forward, and it’s over $100,000, per USA Today. Now, Okung is even launching Bitball, a project to pay athletes in crypto.

He’s not the only one jumping on the crypto ship. Athletes like Aaron Rodgers, Odell Beckham Jr., and Klay Thompson have done the same, converting parts of their salaries to crypto—often through sponsorships. Last year, every player in the WNBA’s Commissioner’s Cup got $5,000 in cryptocurrency from sponsor Coinbase, along with the usual $500,000 prize pool.

Sure, crypto can be all over the place, and some athletes are making it work. With sports and crypto getting more connected, it’s looking like this digital money trend is sticking around. So, what do you think about this digital shift in the golf world? Let us know in the comments!