What Do LIV Golfers Get Paid?

LIV Golf has shaken up the world of men’s professional golf since the breakaway outfit appeared on the scene in 2022 and started tempting big-name players to defect from the main tours and join the Saudi-funded circuit. It’s fair to say that a big attraction for those who made the switch was the simply mind-boggling amount of cold hard cash on offer. The LIV players are guaranteed significant prize money and most were offered highly appealing sign-on fees to join up. Here’s a look at what LIV Golfers get paid.

The Prize Money

The first 13 regular events of the LIV season each carry a total purse of $25m, comprising $20m in individual prizes and $5m for the top three teams. In each event, the winner will receive a cheque for $4m. However, one of the big attractions for players - aside from reports of huge signing on fees (see below) is that, unlike the PGA Tour, even finishing last in an individual event on the LIV circuit guarantees $120,000.

The League will also crown an Individual Champion with a bonus pool of $30m for the top-three performers of the season - Dustin Johnson earned the title of Individual Champion in the inaugural season, pocketing an $18m performance bonus. That took his earnings in excess of $30m. 

The season-ending LIV Golf Team Championship Finale will feature a huge $50 million purse. The winning team will split $16 million four ways, with $10 million awarded to second place and $8 million to third.

The Sign On Fees

The players who signed up to the Saudi-funded breakaway series in 2022 picked up some eye-watering sign-up fees. Here’s a look at a few of them to give an idea of the scale –

Phil Mickelson

Reports and estimates speculate that Mickelson received a signing fee of an astonishing $200 million from LIV Golf. A report by Forbes suggests he likely received half of that up front. Forbes says that, with earnings of $138 million, Mickelson was the highest paid sportsperson of 2022 – Ahead of Lionel Messi with $130 million earnings. Lefty has now (likely) career earnings of over $1 billion. It appears that Phil Mickelson received the highest LIV sign on fee.

Dustin Johnson

It was reported by The Telegraph that Dustin Johnson’s sign on fee was somewhere in the region of $125 million. It has been suggested that DJ has committed to a four-year deal with LIV Golf.

Brooks Koepka

Four-time Major winner Brooks Koepka was one of the most high-profile golfers to sign with Saudi-funded breakaway golf circuit LIV Golf in 2022. Reports suggest that he received a sign-on fee of around $100 million.

Sergio Garcia

According to a report by Forbes, the investment by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment fund boosted the earnings of the 10 highest-paid LIV golfers by an estimated $370 million. Forbes suggest that Sergio Garcia was the seventh best paid golfer of 2022, with on-course earnings of $35 million. A good percentage of that would likely have come from a signing-on fee from LIV Golf. It’s been speculated that his signing on fee was over the $40 million mark.

Ian Poulter

Back in February 2022, The Telegraph reported that Poulter had been offered between $20-$30 million to join the LIV Series.

As well as Poulter, fellow countryman, Lee Westwood, had stated at the 2021 PGA Championship that "If somebody stood here and offered me £50 million to play golf when I'm 48, it's a no-brainer." 

Bryson DeChambeau

When it comes to money, DeChambeau has been linked to a number of figures. Early in 2022, the American was supposedly offered $135 million, with the amount rising to over $240 million. Now though, according to sources, it appears Bryson received a guaranteed $100+ million to join LIV Golf.