Luis Edu
Many well-known golfers have surprised us by opting out of the PGA Tour in favor of the new LIV Golf Tour. This has sparked a firestorm of debate in the professional golf world.
The list of players who are already part of the Arab tour is made up of names that have had a lot of weight in the big events of this sport in the last two decades.
Famous golfers leaving the PGA Tour
Sergio Garcia
The 42-year-old Spaniard is one of the sport’s biggest names, and with the loss of his participation in what had been the world’s largest professional golf organization until now, his career has taken a significant turn.
The 2017 Masters winner is a hugely influential player among the younger crowd, so his switch to the Saudi-sponsored tour surely represents a turning point.
“I can’t wait to leave this tour”, were the harsh words that “El Niño” García expressed when protesting a rule at the Wells Fargo Championship. Words that undoubtedly reflect the veteran’s annoyance with the PGA Tour.
Dustin Johnson
The former world number one had no qualms about joining LIV Golf, especially after receiving a $125 million offer.
“I gave up my Tour membership, and I am going to play here, for now. That’s the plan,” Johnson said at the time of officially announcing his departure from the PGA. We’re talking about a two-time Major winner who is also “tired” of how things have developed lately in professional golf.
Louis Oosthuizen
Another Major winner who decides to cancel his PGA membership. The 39-year-old South African is participating in the first campaign of the LIV Golf Invitational Series and hopes to add all his experience to this innovative new system that has 8 events in its 2022 edition.
Oosthuizen has only one major win in his career, the 2010 Open Championship, but no one doubts his place in the sport’s elite.
Bryson DeChambeau
The young winner of the US Open 2020 is part of the second batch of golf figures who are leaving the PGA Tour before the arrival of the tour that has the legend Greg Norman as commissioner.
In this case, Dechambeau is suffering the consequences of his decision. In the last hours, it was learned that Rocket Mortgage decided to cancel his sponsorship contract.
Patrick Reed
Despite not being part of the list of the most popular golfers, Reed’s presence has always attracted attention among fans for his provocative nature. Additionally, we are talking about a winner of the most important tournament in this sport: The Augusta Masters (2018).
The 31-year-old American will bring talent and personality to a tour that is just starting but that, thanks to the important contribution of money from the Arabs, is bringing about great changes in professional golf.
The millionaire offer that Tiger Woods rejected to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf
Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest golfer in history, was unfazed by the money and declined the invitation to join the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
As stated by the commissioner of the new tour and legend of the sport, Greg Norman, Woods would have declined a 9-figure offer. In other words, we are talking about a minimum of $100 million, a number that does not generate much impact, considering that Phil Mickelson received $200 million and Dustin Johnson about $125 million.
Clearly, at this point in his career, with a net worth of $1.7 billion, the 46-year-old American is not focused on money when making such a momentous decision in his career as a professional golfer.
