$70 million star lifts lid on golf's ugly secret

2 years ago 123

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson has lifted the lid connected quality wealth connected the PGA Tour, a signifier which is supposedly banned.

The 43-year-old, who reportedly received astir $70 cardinal to motion with Greg Norman's LIV Golf earlier this year, was responding to disapproval that the tournaments connected the Saudi-funded circuit don't person cuts, truthful guaranteeing each golfer a cheque.

"It makes maine laughter due to the fact that connected the PGA Tour, I got paid down closed doors to amusement up astatine tournaments, galore tournaments," Watson told ESPN.

"And if Bubba Watson's not the best, that means the champion were getting paid amended than maine and much than me. And truthful it's guaranteed money. I miss the cut, I inactive marque money. I marque the cut, I marque other money."

Appearance fees, communal successful planetary golf, are banned connected the PGA Tour. The world is, however, sponsors expect players they enactment to crook up astatine their events. For example, Tiger Woods had a semipermanent woody with Buick, helium won the Buick Invitational six times and the Buick Open 3 times, tournaments helium was apt contractually bound to play.

"I'd laughter due to the fact that we each had immoderate guaranteed wealth to amusement up astatine places," Watson said.

"Win, lose, quit, immoderate it is, you inactive got the money. We've each been doing that. We've each been playing for guaranteed money.

"The critics, it conscionable makes maine laughter due to the fact that that's what we're doing. We don't privation to speech astir it connected tour, but we are getting it."

In a connection to ESPN, the PGA Tour defended the practice.

"We are alert that definite tourney sponsors whitethorn declaration with a subordinate to execute a sponsor-related enactment during tourney week for which they person nominal compensation," the PGA Tour said.

"This is permissible nether our guidelines."

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