A billion dollars for eight figures, including Niemann: the impressive bonuses with which LIV Golf raised the stars of the PGA

The LIV Golf Series has taken the plunge with all of this. The millions contained in this circuit financed by the Saudi Public Investment Fund are too strong a hook to attract the great figures of the PGA. The most recent, world number two Cameron Smith and Chilean Joaquín Niemann (19th) who joined this new circuit in large numbers, whose particularity is to offer individual and team competitions and whose duration is only three days (54 holes, without court).

Jock confirmed that the arrival of the talagantino cost him 100 million US dollars to the super league (75 million non-taxable US currency), divided into two installments. In this way, the figure becomes the most onerous that a Chilean athlete has ever received.

But the wallet didn’t stay there, since Cameron Smith, current world number two and current British Open champion, arrived for a figure that borders on $125 million same budget offered to Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Patrick Reed and Sergio Garcia . While Brooks Koepka pocketed $100 million. To them are added the best paid Phil Mickelson, who received $200 million to trade.

These sums had a direct impact on the rankings published by the prestigious Forbes magazine. The clearest example is that of the 10 golfers in the rankings, seven are from LIV, topped by Mickelson, followed by Johnson and DeChambeau. At this rate, it’s possible that next year’s earnings leaderboard will all be members of the new circuit.

There is also the case of South Africa Charl Schwartzel, who won the first event of the new circuit in London, earning $4.75 million, more than all he has earned in each of his PGA seasons.

The emerging tour has already shown its power by paying Tiger Woods $700 million to leave the PGA, an offer the American legend rejected for being loyal to the North American Tour. In fact, the situation made him take on a much bigger role, to the point of traveling to Delaware try to convince the undecided, including Niemann, not to change sides.

The Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) is largely responsible for these exorbitant figures. The owner is the Saudi prince Mohammad bin Salman who recently acquired 80% of the shares of Newcastle, of the English Premier League, for 400 million dollars, while his fortune amounts to 350 billion dollars (yes, you read that right).

FIP’s commitment is to invest US$10 billion over the next 10 years in the LIV Golf Series , betting on a revolutionary format, which seeks to change the conception and even, in some way, the rules of this sport. However, he has also partnered with the Asian Tour to enable him to deliver World Ranking points in the near future.

This same conviction is that of the athletes involved, a vision ratified by Jorge Niemann, Joaquín’s father. “Joaco made his decision with all the information on the table, the pros and cons. He continues with the same passion for his sport; It will be a different modality that will eventually find its way into the sports world,” he warned.

In the functions of Joaquín Niemann in this new format, will be captain of Torque GC, a team that takes its name from resistance of the club to twisting of the shaft during the to balancesomething similar to what this part does in automobiles, according to LIV, on its official website.

His team includes Scott Vincent , from Zimbabwe, who is playing for his fourth different team in as many events; australian style jediah morgan ; and in Spanish Adrian Otaegui who was part of the original team that started in London before the reorganization suffered by the team after the arrival of the Chilean.

In team competitions, the best scores in two-stroke play from the first two rounds will count for each team. For the third and final day, the top three scores will count. The team’s lowest overall score after 54 holes will be the winning team. Actors will compete for a total purse of US$5 million: US$3 million for first place, US$1.5 million for second, and US$500,000 for third. Each player will receive a 25% share of the profits, which makes it extremely attractive from an economic point of view.