‘We Make Money Because of Him’: Tiger Woods Finds New Ally in Ex Liv Golf Star Following Intense Backlash Over $12M Earnings

Was Tiger Woods’s $12M Player Impact Program bonus justified? Woods coming in second in the PIP list, despite playing in two events, ruffled a few feathers. But Pablo Larrazabal, who once had a dalliance with LIV Golf, thinks modern golfers owe the prodigious sums they earn to the former World No.1. In a chat with Flushin It Golf, the Spaniard boldly claimed that “we have to thank” Tiger Woods.

Larrazabal’s respect for Woods is well-known. The 40-year-old made an offer to caddie for the veteran golfer when the 15x Major winner announced his return to the greens in the Bahamas. In the podcast, recorded before the Hero World Challenge, Larrazabal revealed why today’s golfers should thank Woods for the millions they make.

Larrazabal thinks everyone owes it to Tiger Woods

Larrazabal points to the way Woods has transformed golf from a niche sport to a popular one that attracted big-money investors. As per the nine-time DP World Tour winner, the investments and sponsorships have trickled down to average Tour pros and caddies as well. Larrazabal said, “I mean people like us; I mean no(t) only golfers you know, you guys, media, caddies,  we all have to thank him because we make him money because of him.”

Adding further the Spanish international said, “I mean a guy like me 30 years ago before Tiger’s start, he [the golfer] was making; we were making a living but not as good as we are doing it now.” Notably, despite winning 18 Majors, Jack Nicklaus raked in only around $9M. In fact, when Woods won his first green jacket, he pocketed $486,000. On the other hand, Jon Rahm, the defending Masters champion, bagged $3,240,000, this April. 

The level of dominance and athleticism Woods brought to the game attracted bigwigs like Buick, Accenture, and General Motors. The Fortune 500 companies’ interest benefitted other golfers as well – the purse inflated, and more sponsors signed endorsements with Tour pros. “So we have to thank, all of us, Tiger,” the 40-year-old says without any hint of doubt.

Surprisingly, Larrazabal’s comments stand in sharp contrast to what he said about the $100M PGA Tour reserved for PIP, earlier. Echoing fans and commentators, the DPWT Pro blasted the PGAT for their disparity.

The PIP amount didn’t sit well with Larrazabal

The PIP rewards players who have generated positive interest in the Tour. Tiger Woods, notably, topped the list for two years, before Rory McIlroy pipped him to bring home $15M this year. Essentially, PIP recognizes the off-court ‘performances’ of players rather than their exploit on the greens. 

Read More: Amid Hazy Clouds Hovering Over LIV Golf and PGA Tour Merger, DPWT Pros Voice Their Pathbreaking Suggestion

Larrazabal taking to X (formerly Twitter), wrote, “The @PGATOUR gives away 100 Million to the Players Impact Program (PIP), 3 times more than the money that they pay to the @DPWorldTour for all year. Well, I hope that @JordanSpieth (new chairman of the PGA players board) makes the @DPWorldTour great again,” In fact, PGAT pros, too, questioned the rationale behind keeping a vast amount of money reserved for only top players instead of using it for general purposes. 

Notably, the Tour has also announced that it’ll bring it down to $50M and pay only the top ten players from next year. It seems the $100M didn’t sit well with the Spaniard, but he does not doubt Tiger Woods’s impact.

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