19th Hole
Phil Mickelson is the highest paid athlete for 2022…and LIV pros dominate the top 10 golfer list
Whatever the thoughts on LIV Golf, and there are quite a few out there, one thing is for sure – it has put a lot of money into quite a few bank accounts.
On Friday, Forbes revealed the list of highest paid golfers for 2022, and according to the hugely respected financial report, the organization has boosted the top-10 golfers’ income by around $370 million!
The recent third LIV event concluded last night at Bedminster, with recent recruits Charles Howell III and Jason Kokrak starting the final round 14 and 15 shots behind fellow newcomer Henrik Stenson.
Much of the golfing world believes some players are being dishonest about the reasons for joining the Saudi-backed tour – many wanting confirmation it is all about the huge money offered rather than more free time, playing conditions etc. – and Howell was at pains to point out the same as many of his fellow players.
Even with over $40 million in the bank via a long PGA Tour career, that amount could be chicken-feed if Forbes are right about the difference LIV can make.
Bryson DeChambeau may say he wants to be part of a revolutionary tour from the beginning, but according to Forbes, his $62 million upfront payment has lifted him to third on the golfer’s earnings list and 11th in the list of highest paid athletes.
Bryson’s supposed big rival, Brooks Koepka, who beat him senseless in a grudge version of The Match, is listed just one place behind his foe in 4th place, whilst Tiger Woods – ‘The GOAT’ for many golf fans – lags at number 5 after refusing what Greg Norman called a “mind-blowingly enormous” offer.
Two-time major winner Dustin Johnson “pocketed $97 million in the last year, including an estimated $62 million signing bonus from LIV in May.” That takes him to second for golfers and fifth on the athlete’s list, and DJ isn’t shy in mentioning why he left – “Play less golf, play for more money—it just made sense.”
However, despite ‘Shipnuck-gate’ and the fact he has done very little in three LIV events so far, three-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson leads the way.
Joining LIV as a way of “leveraging” against the PGA Tour, Forbes reports Lefty to have received half of his $200 million agreement upfront, contributing to a yearly income of $138 million and putting him on top of all other athletes in the rich list.
As well as DJ and Lefty, other Green Jacket-holders/LIV jumpers make the rankings for top-10 earning golfers.
Patrick Reed, Charles Schwartzel and Sergio Garcia have made huge amounts of money since their leap to LIV, whilst two-time Masters champ Bubba Watson is ready to play his first event over the next few months. Rumors also persist that fellow Masters champions Adam Scott and Hideki Matsuyama are ready to join.
For the LIV team, nabbing Matsuyama would be a huge plus in their efforts to take their idea worldwide, with the Asian market – and in particular Japan – being seen as big enough to have reportedly offered the biggest incentive to date.
Should the world ranked number 15 agree, Forbes may well need to revise their list.
More from the 19th Hole
- ‘Your tee times at Augusta are numbered’ – Wife of Masters legend lashes out at Bryson DeChambeau
- Why Phil Mickelson’s Open playing partner told Lefty that he’s hated him for 11 years
- YouTube sensation ejected by Brooks Koepka at Open Championship party
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19th Hole
“Is it a Titleist?” – Jerry Seinfeld shares never-before-heard details of iconic scene
On Thursday, legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld joined the Rich Eisen Show and shared an awesome story from a “Seinfeld” episode titled “The Marine Biologist.”
In the episode, a golf ball goes into the blow hole of a whale. According to Seinfeld, that was never in the episode’s script.
Seinfeld recalls saying the night before the filming of the episode, “What if what puts the whale in distress is Kramer’s golf ball?”
“He’s hitting golf balls at the beach. George is at the beach with a girl, we haven’t connected them!”
“We write that speech the night before at two o’clock in the morning…The sea was angry that day my friend.”
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Kramer finishes the iconic scene by asking “Is it a Titleist?” Seinfeld told Eisen the show sought Titleist’s permission to mention its name, saying the ball had to be a Titleist. Fortunately for lovers of the iconic show, the company agreed.
If (somehow) you’re unfamiliar with the scene, check it out below.
More from the 19th Hole
- Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game “on a much more global basis”
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Tiger explains why golf has “negative connotations” for daughter Sam
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19th Hole
Phil Mickelson drops big retirement hint; Says LIV will grow the game ‘on a much more global basis’
While speaking with Bloomberg, golf legend Phil Mickelson acknowledged that he is inching close towards retirement.
“I’m 53 now,” Phil said, “and my career, you know, it’s — if I’m being truthful, it’s on — it’s — it’s — I’m a — it’s towards its end.”
Mickelson added that one of his focuses now is helping other young players.
“Now, I would like to help others find the same enjoyment and fulfillment that the game has provided me. I’d like them to experience that as well.”
The six-time major champion credited LIV with reaching new markets in golf to help it grow.
“I think that’s exciting for everyone involved in the game because we are going to reach markets that we didn’t reach before. I think it’s going to inspire more golf courses, inspire more manufacturers selling clubs and equipment, but also inspiring young kids to try to play golf professionally. I just see that the game of golf is going to grow on a much more global basis because of the excitement and the presence that LIV Golf has.”
Mickelson is playing at this week’s LIV Singapore and shot a first round 72 (+1).
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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19th Hole
Tiger explains why golf has ‘negative connotations’ for daughter Sam
While Tiger Woods’ son, Charlie, has certainly inherited his father’s love for golf, his daughter, Sam, has not.
On Wednesday, Tiger made an appearance on The Today Show with Carson Daly and explained his daughter’s relationship with golf.
“Golf has negative connotations for her. When she was growing up, golf took daddy away from her. I had to pack, I had to leave, and I was gone for weeks. So, there were negative connotations to it.
“We developed our own relationship and our own rapport outside of golf. We do things that doesn’t involve golf. Meanwhile, my son and I, everything we do is golf related.”
The nine-minute interview touches on plenty of other subjects, such as Tiger’s relationship with his late father, Earl.
It’s arguably the most open we’ve seen the 15-time major champion in an interview and is most definitely worth watching.
Tiger Woods sits down with Carson Daly to talk about golf, growing up in Southern California, his father and his new apparel line, Sun Day Red. pic.twitter.com/2TFbSNxzxq
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) May 1, 2024
More from the 19th Hole
- The wild reason why Mark Wahlberg was initially denied entry to an Australian golf club
- 2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
- Edoardo Molinari reveals the latest PGA Tour golfer to turn down ‘good offer’ from LIV Golf
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