Dustin Johnson’s flip flops were priced high.
The Telegraph in the United Kingdom reports that LIV Golf, the Saudi government-backed golf league led by Greg Norman seeking to disrupt the PGA Tour, paid Johnson “around” £ 100 million (or about £ 125 million). dollars) to join. his series.
There is definitely a lot of money at stake. Golf legend Jack Nicklaus recently said he was offered “something over $ 100 million” to lead the league. This role eventually went to Norman.
RBC (Royal Bank of Canada), one of Johnson’s main sponsors, severed ties with the golfer and announced that he was “very disappointed” with his decision to play on the circuit.
“RBC is a proud partner of the PGA Tour. Our partnership is anchored in two world-class golf tournaments: the RBC Heritage and the RBC Canadian Open,” the bank said in a statement. “The PGA Tour has made clear its intentions in accordance with its tournament regulations if a golfer decides to play in an off – tour tournament, including the LIV Golf Invitational Series.
Dustin Johnson was reportedly paid “around” $ 125 million to compete in the Saudi Golf League. Getty Images
“We recently learned that Dustin Johnson has made the decision to play the opening of the LIV Golf Invitational Series. DJ has been a valuable member of the RBC team since 2018. Although we are very disappointed with his decision, We wish you the best. “
Johnson, 37, who is married to Paulina Gretzky, won the 2016 U.S. Open and the 2020 Masters.
Other golfers at the June Saudi League of Golf event outside of London include Sergio Garcia, Ian Poulter, Kevin Na, Lee Westwood, Louis Oosthuizen, Martin Kaymer, Charl Schwartzel, Graeme McDowell and Talor Gooch.
Phil Mickelson caused a stir at the beginning of the year when he downplayed the human rights concerns associated with competing in the league.
“They’re scared mothers to get involved with,” Mickelson told his biographer Alan Shipnuck in February. “We know they killed him [Washington Post reporter Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible human rights record. There they execute people for being gay. Knowing all this, why should I raise it? Because this is a unique opportunity in life to reshape how the PGA Tour works. “
Mickelson, who also broke the “hateful greed” of the PGA Tour for the amount of money that is not distributed to golfers, faced what came with a ban in the shadow of several months of the PGA Tour after comments.
On Wednesday, the PGA Tour issued a statement saying members “have not been allowed to participate” in the Saudi Golf League event and are subject to unspecified “disciplinary action” so far.