James Colgan
Getty Photos
It has turn into en vogue in skilled golf’s current historical past for gamers to espouse their perception that cash will not be on the heart of what makes golf nice.
Not less than 4 of these golfers don the fairways of Tuesday’s made-for-TV golf match, The Showdown, pitting two of the PGA Tour’s most well-loved stars (Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler) in opposition to two of LIV’s (Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau). Nevermind that half of the sphere wrangled monumental sums to depart their place of business for a brand new, morally murky upstart. Nevermind that the opposite half has hardly been the image of professional golf’s meritocracy. These 4 golfers have all admitted at factors each current and distant that they play golf for one thing greater than cash, and contemplating their shared aggressive resumes, we’re inclined to consider them.
Fortunately, although, the enterprise {of professional} golf pays the identical for a weekend filled with 65s whether or not you spend all day lengthy studying John Wood’s Pyramid of Success or your newest financial institution assertion. And within the case of those that have made it into The Showdown, the enterprise of golf pays very properly.
Along with a rumored multimillion-dollar look charge paid out to every of the 4 opponents in Tuesday night time’s occasion, the foursome will play for a hefty prize: $10 million.
In fact, the cash comes with a hook. The purse will probably be dished within the foreign money of the night’s sponsor, Crypto.com. The winners will obtain the equal of $5 million within the crypto-based coin “CRO.” (Whether or not they select to carry the road, betting on a second crypto renaissance, or cashout in pursuit of the true factor stays to be seen.)
Whereas the cash isn’t fairly legacy-defining for these in golf’s uber-rich trendy period (Scheffler gained $62 million on the course in 2024 alone), it’s nonetheless a hefty sum. Good for 4 of golf’s finest for getting their piece of that, and good for the remainder of us for getting a Tuesday night of golf leisure in the course of December.
James Colgan
Golf.com Editor
James Colgan is a information and options editor at GOLF, writing tales for the web site and journal. He manages the Scorching Mic, GOLF’s media vertical, and makes use of his on-camera expertise throughout the model’s platforms. Previous to becoming a member of GOLF, James graduated from Syracuse College, throughout which period he was a caddie scholarship recipient (and astute looper) on Lengthy Island, the place he’s from. He may be reached at james.colgan@golf.com.