Major Names Drama As LIV Golf Series Offering Large Winnings

The LIV Golf International Series tees off this Thursday and is offering US$255 million (AU$354 million) over the eight events, with large contracts also being offered to PGA stars.

The series continues to be seen as controversial as Saudi Arabia has been accused of ‘sports washing’ their human rights record.

Dustin Johnson has been joined by Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and Martin Kaymer and several others, who will all lead their individual teams.

Additionally, clashes with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour have added controversy, as the tours have denied permission to athletes to attend the events.

Commenting on the criticism, Chief executive for LIV Golf Investments,Greg Norman,said: “We [LIV Golf] are independent.”

“I do not answer to Saudi Arabia.”

“I can categorically tell you, that’s not the case.

“I do not answer to MBS,” he said.

In addition to the US$255 million for the eight LIV tournaments, US$20 million will be handed out for individual prizes.

Commenting on the prize fund, LIV Golf, said: “The first seven regular season events will have a prize pool of US$25m.”

“The individual winner will receive US$4 million, the last-placed finisher collecting US$120,000 and a team event collecting US$5 million,” they continued.

Norman, said LIV Golf investments are aiming to put down a total of US$2 billion into the tournament between 2023 and 2025.

The announcement comes after RBC cancelled Dustin Johnson’s sponsorship deciding to play in the LIV Golf events.