Bryson DeChambeau had a stunning opening round at The Masters, shooting a seven-under 65 to give him the overnight lead and in prime position to become the first LIV Golf player to win at Augusta National.
It’s now almost two years since DeChambeau’s big-money move to the circuit, but just how lucrative was the deal? He opened up on that not long after he joined.
When DeChambeau made the move to LIV Golf in June 2022, it ended months of speculation over his future. He had been rumored to be joining even before the circuit had been confirmed, with reports that he had been offered upwards of $200m as early as February that year.
That figure seemed truly mind-boggling as, the previous year, DeChambeau had earned “just” $7.4m in prize money across the entire PGA Tour season.
Given that, it wasn’t a complete surprise when he was unveiled as a LIV Golf player four months later, although his switch did represent a u-turn after it came just months after he had vowed loyalty to the PGA Tour.
Bryson DeChambeau joined LIV Golf shortly after it launched in 2022
(Image credit: Getty Images)
In the end, it was reported that DeChambeau had been lured to the upstart alternative to the PGA Tour by a more modest figure of around $125m. Still, it was a powerful statement that the new venture, backed by the billions of the Saudi Public Investment Fund, could blow anything the PGA Tour could offer out of the water.
So, what really was his signing-on fee? Perhaps surprisingly, DeChambeau partially answered that question less than a month after joining LIV Golf during an appearance on the Country Club Adjacent podcast.
It was put to DeChambeau that he had a $125m smile, and he answered: “That’s a little low. I’m not gonna say the details, I mean for what’s reported it’s somewhat close.”
He then added some details on the contract’s structure, saying: “It’s a four-and-a-half year deal, I can definitely tell you that and a lot of it was up front which is great.”
But what does a young golfer with $125m (and change) burning a hole in his pocket do with the money?
Bryson DeChambeau’s Crushers GC won the 2023 Team Championship
(Image credit: Getty Images)
DeChambeau had already hinted at that days after he signed: “It was a business decision first and foremost and that’s all there was to…
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