European Ryder Cup stars Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm are PGA Tour loyalists awaiting compensation after choosing to maintain their loyalty despite being offered millions of dollars by LIV Golf.
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is set to compensate several Ryder Cup golfers, including Rory McIlroy and Jon Rahm, who refused to participate in LIV Golf. This comes after the PGA Tour and DP World Tour agreed to a groundbreaking merger.
McIlroy and Rahm are among the most notable golf stars to stay on the PGA Tour instead of joining the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Tour. But the idea of playing with ship-hoppers for financial rewards has turned off some players. This is why, after turning away millions of people from joining LIV, they will receive rewards for loyalty. The Saudis are considering compensating McIlroy, Rahm and other PGA loyalists to defuse the situation.
This compensation could reach hundreds of millions, especially as Phil Mickelson is said to have received a significant payment of £160 million to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.
Masters champion Rahm was reportedly offered tens of millions to join LIV Golf and believes PGA Tour management betrayed its star players. McIlroy also expressed support for compensation for loyalists who chose to stay. McIlroy made no secret of his disdain for LIV Golf and once announced that he would give up the game to join the Rebel Tour. “If LIV Golf is the last place on Earth to play golf, I will retire,” McIlroy told reporters after the first round of the 2023 Scottish Open. That is my feeling”. comfortable.”
According to the Times, PIF’s golf compensation plan aims to allow these top players to keep their winnings. It is hoped that this strategy will facilitate a smoother transition to the new landscape of the golf world. The PGA Tour has insisted that the new business entity, which involves significant Saudi sponsorship of two major tournaments, should not be considered a merger with LIV Golf, despite previous suggestions.
Critics say the Saudis got golf through the deal. This development has caused significant anger among fans, mainly due to concerns about the country’s poor human rights record.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan even faced calls to resign over the controversial deal. There is speculation that LIV Golf could be phased out, but leaders of the breakaway group insist it will stay. It remains to be seen whether Greg Norman, head of LIV Golf, will be involved in the new deal. The Ryder Cup does not award prize money to players or teams regardless of match outcome, following a tradition in which participants compete only to represent their team and country.