‘Exorbitant’: Phil Mickelson Reveals Greg Norman’s ‘Million Dollar’ Masterplan to Dominate Golf’s Money Game

How the table has turned! Phil Mickelson admits that during the first two years, LIV Golf had to burn their purses. They had to pay the sites for hosting them because “it was controversial and there were threats against us.” But LIV Golf’s success and the massive impact it had on the local economy have turned the tide in their favor. Now, countries are paying them to host events.

For Mickelson, the greatest advantage is the control they have over the product. The Lefty believes sponsors have a better idea of what they are investing in. In fact, that’s what’s currently bracing the jaw-dropping purses LIV Golf offers.

Phil Mickelson reveals the bigger picture 

While the Saudi sovereign fund boasts $700 billion in war chests, the purse size generally comes from the countries that are hosting LIV Golf. The six-time Major winner claimed in the Pat McAfee show, “We are now going to different countries and utilizing tourism budgets to get us there.” LIV Golf will travel to seven countries this year, including Hong Kong for the first time.

Commenting on the matter, Mickelson said, “The reason we’re going to Hong Kong is that they are paying an exorbitant amount of money to bring professional golf of the highest level there. They’re using their tourism budget to do that.” The case is the same with Singapore as well, as the 53-year-old explained that Lion City was not on the map this year. However, the Southeast Asian nation was added because “the tourism board in Singapore gets involved.”

In fact, the money involved is enough to cover the purses. Phil Mickelson went on to shed more light: “And I’m talking tens of millions of dollars, not just a million or two… now these countries are using tourism dollars to get us to go there because of the impact we’re having on their economy.”  The economic impact is also what Greg Norman, the LIV Golf CEO, talked about earlier. But do these claims hold water?

LIV Golf’s impact: The Adelaide example

2023 LIV Golf Adelaide was arguably the most successful of all LIV events in these two years. People from 37 countries touched down on the Greg Norman-designed course for the event, which pumped around $64 million into the region’s economy. Zoe Bettison, the Australian Minister for Tourism, said, “Not only did it provide a huge boost to our visitor economy and supported (sic) many local jobs, LIV Golf Adelaide made history with scenes broadcast around the world, including in our key tourism markets.”

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The enthusiasm is visible and indeed measurable in tangible terms. Australian Golf Digest reveals that 80% of the hospitality passes have been booked for this year’s event within 24 hours. Phil Mickelson said that the massive impact LIV Golf is exerting on the economy offers a new opportunity for professional golf. “

To not see this opportunity is short-sighted.” The Lefty opines that these hitherto untapped markets hold immense potential to truly globalize the sport.

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