THESE GOLFERS LOVE THE GREEN

IT’S the competition that’s started a civil war in professional golf. Bankrolled by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, the organizers of the LIV Golf Series have pledged $2 billion into the new venture which, not surprisingly, has turned a lot of golfers’ heads — even though it’s run by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the man the CIA believe ordered the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.

Some big names — Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Sergio Garcia and others — have already made the move, costing them their place on the PGA Tour even though they were part of this weekend’s US Open. Other highprofile players, including Rickie Fowler and Bubba Watson, are rumored to be joining LIV soon.

New reports claim that fourtime major-championship winner Brooks Koepka (whose younger brother, Chase, has already signed on for LIV) might also switch. If so, he’s sure to get just as much, if not more, than any player so far.

And the amounts have been eye-watering. Mickelson is said to have landed $200 million, and Johnson reportedly made a deal for $125 million with LIV. Even that lower number is more than Tiger Woods has made in prize money for his entire career. But not everyone’s tempted. For players like Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy, jumping ship is a sign of little more than barefaced greed. “I just don’t see the value in tarnishing a reputation for extra millions,” he said.

For the golfers that have jumped ship, though, it’s clearly not such a problem.

The only question, really, is will they ever have enough money?