But not in 2023. Now, it barely even matters to be good.
LIV Golf has changed the financial landscape of professional golf
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Pat Perez, the world no.504, recently earned more than £6million from eight LIV Golf events, despite an average finishing position of 32nd in a 48-man field.
The Saudi Public Investment Fund’s willingness to throw billions at golf has put LIV players Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson inside the top seven highest-paid athletes in 2023.
Johnson has two wins in the last 12 months, both on the LIV tour. Mickelson has none.
Having struck a framework deal with the PIF, the PGA Tour will soon get a large slice of that cake – and professional golfers are set to continue earning more millions than ever before, without necessarily winning.
That would be Tiger Woods – and he did it simply by being the best.
Before the 15-time major winner burst onto the scene in 1996, the PGA Tour was stuck in a rut without Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
Purses had increased at a steady rate of around 4.5 per cent per year between 1984 and 1996, so that by the time Woods turned professional in August 1996, the average purse at a PGA Tour event was around £325,000.
‘Good strike!’ – Rory McIlroy impressed with Gareth Bale tee shot at BMW PGA Pro-Am
