The LIV Golf Series draws Dustin Johnson, but Rory McIlroy wasn’t impressed

Dublin, Ohio — Rory McIlroy I’m not impressed.
Give Jupiter four major winners at this week’s memorial. Or at the Canadian Open next week.In fact, McIlroy will take over most PGA Tour event fields What the LIV Golf Series is developing The first event to be held in London next week.
“I certainly don’t think the field is like bouncing,” he said. “Look at this week’s field. Look at next week’s Canadian field. They are the right golf tournaments.”
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The long-awaited announcement in the Saudi-sponsored LIV series area surprised Dustin Johnson, the world’s thirteenth-ranked player, on Tuesday night. Jupiter’s resident is one of two top 20 golfers (Louis Oosthuizen) and 16 of the top 100 participating in the startup series.
And Johnson is one of the two who move the needle when it comes to sports with Sergio Garcia.
LIV Golf and its face, Greg Norman, have experienced a publicity nightmare since Phil Mickelson’s comments on Saudi Arabia’s human rights atrocities and his criticisms of the PGA Tour. Ironically, Mickelson isn’t included in the names of the first 42 people listed at next week’s event, but he can afford it if he decides to play.
And Norman didn’t help himself when he said, “We all made a mistake,” in connection with the Saudi government’s murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Chase Koepka stands to win in the LIV Golf Series
Still, the decision to play is purely personal and understandable to many. Who would decide if someone who traveled the world and failed to access the PGA Tour, like Chase Kepka in West Palm Beach, would have the opportunity to make more money in three days than in the last seven years? Is not it.
Chase in the field earned $ 8,500 on three different tours this year and about $ 315,000 since turning pro in 2016. He is guaranteed if 48 out of 48 people die last at next week’s event at the Centurion Club in London. At least $ 120,000.
Ranked 1,543 in the world, Koepka can earn at least millions of dollars and play eight LIV golf events, five of which will be staged in the United States.
“I have very close friends attending this event in London, and I’m sure they don’t want to prevent them from doing what they think is right for them,” McIlroy said. “That’s not something I personally do … but at least I have to be in the position of others to see where they are coming from.”
The reaction is different than when Koepka, David Puig (1,706th in the world), James Pio (1,731), and dozens of golfers in the field are above 700th in the world.
Some people have just graduated from college and haven’t caused a blip on their money list. Others have been playing this game for years and have lived a decent life, but there are nine behind their careers and they are looking for another big payday.
“Everyone’s situation is very unique and different,” said 2021 Memorial Winner Jupiter Patrick Cantlay. “So I think the motives that different people have often guide their decisions. You have been seen by many who chose to go there, they are generally theirs. They’re in the second half of their careers. They probably feel they’re on a downtrend, so they’re trying to maximize the number of years they have left. “
McIlroy also understands that some players are trying to hit again.
“Another group will come and guarantee this amount … and you can play with a ton more prize, play at fewer events and spend more time with your family,” he said. Said. .. “It’s very attractive to those in that position.”
Of the 42 players on the LIV list at this point, 13 have PGA Tour membership.
The majority of golf A listers do not want to have anything to do with LIV
But there’s a reason the majority of golf A-listers said they weren’t interested in competing leagues from the start, which threatened the ban on players in the new league by PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan. Is over. Possible consequences are fines and suspensions.
Money is not an issue for many — “I’m not in that position,” McIlroy said. Therefore, for people like Johnson and Garcia, their peers must be asking “why?”.
Johnson makes more money on the PGA Tour than anyone other than Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. And $ 74 million is just a small part of what he put in his pocket. He recently paid $ 14 million to Admiral’s Cove’s house. Garcia is number 10 on the PGA Tour’s career money list, over $ 54 million. Again, this is far from his overall earnings.
“If you are comfortable, happiness (in that regard) is inevitably not going to get more happiness by making more money,” Cantlay said.
Tom Dangero Palm beach post, USA Today Part of the Florida Network.You can reach him tdangelo@pbpost.com.. Help us support our journalism. Subscribe today.
The LIV Golf Series draws Dustin Johnson, but Rory McIlroy wasn’t impressed
Source link The LIV Golf Series draws Dustin Johnson, but Rory McIlroy wasn’t impressed