Legendary sports activities agent phone calls Saudi-backed LIV Golf ‘a no brainer’ for specified golfers
As LIV Golfing proceeds to flaunt under no circumstances-ahead of-found dollars at some of golf’s biggest names, the range of PGA Tour defectors keeps rising.
Very last week’s major winner, Cameron Smith, was made available a reported $90 million, although famed broadcaster David Feherty declared his change from NBC to LIV Golf on Friday.
“The dollars are just much too astronomical,” legendary sports activities agent Leigh Steinberg instructed Yahoo Finance. “And for more youthful athletes with no considerably political consciousness, it is a no-brainer.”
Although The Saudi Arabia General public Investment decision Fund has pledged $255 million in prize funds throughout the eight LIV events, personal players like Phil Mickelson ($200 million) and Dustin Johnson ($125 million) are reportedly generating total salaries more than double what they’ve earned in prize revenue over their overall careers.
The sports’ more mature generation has denounced that attitude. Masters Champion Fred Partners advised Yahoo Finance the golfers at the LIV Tour are staying “completely overpaid” and explained the players’ bashing of the PGA Tour “ridiculous.”
Even so, the money is so eye-popping that some gamers just can’t overlook the payday, in accordance to Steinberg, who now represents NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes.
“At the close of the working day, this league may maintain,” Steinberg explained. “Because the numbers are so astronomical people today may possibly glimpse at it “I have 1 everyday living, one career, 1 earning curve’ … The Saudis have unlimited resources.”
The feud concerning PGA and LIV has carried around into Washington. The Department of Justice is investigating the PGA Tour for anticompetitive habits relating to PGA’s suspensions on LIV players. In the meantime, a current submitting discovered the PGA spent $120,000 in the second quarter on lobbying issues which includes “Saudi Golf League proposals.”
Steinberg, who’s been symbolizing athletes considering the fact that the 1970s, as opposed the latest golf problem to other mergers in key sporting activities like the American Basketball Association (ABA) becoming a member of the NBA and the American Soccer League (AFL) combining with the NFL. Typically, he argued, folks neglect about the mergers and the drama encompassing them.
This scenario could be unique, on the other hand, provided Saudi Arabia’s historical past of inhumane activities. The region has been beneath fire for its killing of Washington Article journalist Jamal Khashoggi and has also been on the getting end of criticism from families of 9/11 victims.
Players have not appeared to be fazed by the controversy, and they may have a fair argument, Steinberg said, given President Biden’s modern journey to Saudi Arabia and his fist bump with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.
“Memory is shorter,” he stated. “If that league tends to make it, then youthful folks will forget how that transpired and all the relaxation of it.”
Josh is a producer for Yahoo Finance.
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