Watson puzzled by critics questioning LIV Golf assured cash

Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson is not certain why LIV Golf gamers are being closely criticized by some PGA Tour gamers for taking assured cash from the brand new circuit.

Watson, 43, advised ESPN that he obtained assured look cash from sponsors and match organizers whereas taking part in on the PGA Tour, which wasn’t allowed beneath the Tour’s guidelines.

“It makes me chuckle as a result of on the PGA Tour, I obtained paid behind closed doorways to indicate up at tournaments, many tournaments,” Watson advised ESPN. “And if Bubba Watson’s not the perfect, which means the perfect had been getting paid higher than me and greater than me. And so it is assured cash. I miss the minimize, I nonetheless earn a living. I make the minimize, I make more money.”

In an announcement to ESPN on Wednesday, the PGA Tour mentioned it “prohibits the cost of look cash to gamers as an inducement to play in a selected match.”

“We’re conscious that sure match sponsors could contract with a participant to carry out a sponsor-related exercise throughout match week for which they obtain nominal compensation,” the PGA Tour assertion mentioned. “That is permissible beneath our tips.”

Tiger Woods, amongst different PGA Tour gamers, have criticized gamers for accepting assured, multi-year contracts from LIV Golf, which is being funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund. Former world No. 1 golfer Dustin Johnson reportedly obtained greater than $125 million to defect to the brand new circuit after which received one other $35 million in prize cash and bonuses in its inaugural season.

Six-time main champion Phil Mickelson, who helped recruit gamers to LIV Golf, reportedly signed a $200 million deal.

“What these gamers are doing for assured cash, what’s the incentive to follow?” Woods advised reporters on the a hundred and fiftieth Open at St. Andrews in July. “What’s the incentive to go on the market and earn it within the grime? You are simply getting paid some huge cash upfront and taking part in a number of occasions and taking part in 54 holes.”

Watson did not specify how a lot under-the-table cash he obtained throughout his PGA Tour profession, through which he received 12 occasions, together with the Masters in 2012 and 2014.

“I might chuckle at (criticism) as a result of all of us had some assured cash to indicate up at locations,” Watson mentioned. “Win, lose, stop, no matter it’s, you continue to obtained the cash. We have all been doing that. We have all been taking part in for assured cash. The critics, it simply makes me chuckle as a result of that is what we’re doing. We do not need to discuss it on tour, however we’re getting it.”

Kevin Kisner, a member of the PGA Tour participant advisory council, advised ESPN that the cash gamers obtain at PGA Tour tournaments is totally different from what LIV Golf is doling out.

“I’d not say that it is an look charge as a lot as a relationship between the participant and the title sponsor or the host group,” Kisner mentioned. “They’re making an attempt to get extra money in gamers’ palms by way of contracted appearances for tent visits or pro-ams away from the common PGA Tour. It has been occurring eternally.

“If Vacationers desires to pay Bubba Watson to go do a tent go to, that has nothing to do with the PGA Tour. You do not suppose Zurich in New Orleans is pressuring guys to play as a result of they’re sponsoring them on their sleeves? That is not an look charge. That is an off-course endorsement that is beneath contract. What number of gamers does RBC have?”

LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman mentioned he wasn’t allowed to simply accept look charges when he performed on the PGA Tour.

“I have been away from the PGA Tour for thus lengthy,” Norman mentioned. “I’ve heard these rumors and opinions on the market. I can solely say that if Bubba is saying that, it is obtained to be factual and it would not shock me in any respect. Again in my day, we weren’t allowed to take look cash, we weren’t allowed to get our lodges paid or any bills paid for. We needed to go simply play golf and we earned what we earned and we spent what we needed to spend to go earn that cash. It could be totally different now.”