Everyone's for sale - especially some golfers

[SouthernDem4ever]

Paulina Gretzky explains Dustin Johnson's decision to join LIV Golf

Dustin Johnson generated headlines when he decided to join LIV Golf last year. Fans were left questioning the top athlete.
Why would one of the world’s best golfers leave the PGA Tour?
Johnson, 38, has repeatedly stated that his decision was in his family’s best interest. He is married to Paulina Gretzky, daughter of NHL legend Wayne Gretzky, and the couple have two children.
In the Netflix series "Full Swing," Paulina Gretzky shed light on Johnson’s career-altering move.

"I don’t think Dustin would ever make bad choice for his children and people have to understand at the end of the day, that’s who he chose this for," Gretzky said via the New York Post. "Of course, I get what everyone’s saying, but my dad being a hockey player [NHL Hall of Famer Wayne Gretzky] — I’m sure as a kid, there were times when I’m like like, ‘Why does my dad have to play on my birthday?’ This is about Dustin and the kids and me and taking care of us and being there with us."
Dustin Johnson watches his ball after hitting a tee shot on the 16th during the second round of the LIV Golf tournament at The International.
Johnson left PGA Tour in 2022

Johnson received a four-year deal worth reportedly $125 million from LIV Golf. According to Palm Beach Post reporter Tom D’Angelo, Johnson had made around $75 million in 15 years on the PGA Tour prior to defecting.

"I’ve had a wonderful career on the PGA Tour and I’m very proud of it, and always will be," Johnson said during the show. "Obviously now I’ve taken kinda of a different step in my life and career."

However, the decision hasn’t come without backlash.
What do other golfers say about LIV?

Several golfers have been outspoken about the LIV Golf Series. Rory McIlroy has been vocal regarding LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman. McIlroy stated that Norman "needs to go" amid the controversy between sides.

Well Paulina, did you tell your kids that Daddy is now working for a regime of oil slick royalty with one of the worst human rights records in history? Do you have a daughter? Would you like her to grow up under the regime of those same people paying your husband's check? But who cares, it's someone else, right?


more at:

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/golf/2023/02/18/paulina-gretzky-explains-dustin-johnsons-decision-join-liv-golf/11290460002/

[ProfessorGAC]

1. Some Misleading Reporting

It says Johnson made $75 million in 15 years. That number is wrong. It's over $90 million total golf earnings.
But, more importantly is that the tour raised his profile as a competitor that led to endorsements, appearance fees, and other fees averaging nearly $7 million per year his last 8 years.
He didn't make $75 million. He made $145 million! And, he made over 80% of that in his last u years.
The article tries to make it out as a financial no-brainer. That's not the case, especially since a lot of the endorsement & appearance money was contingent on tour membership.
He's making more money, sure. But, it's not the difference the article purports.
What it's really about is getting paid without having to work hard for it.
It's his choice of course, but it's nothing as noble as being able to be more present for the family.
He had earned enough money to have simply walked away from the game if that was the motivation.
He just sold himself to the devil. Nothing more complicated than that.

[gab13by13]

5. I wondered if sponsors would start dropping LIV players

but I saw an ad with Brucke Koepka yesterday, they are probably locked in.

They won't get to play for their country in the Ryder Cup and President's Cup.

The PGA just won a big court case (it is being appealed) that the LIV backers have to turn over documents showing who is backing them. Most likely the Saudi government. Must be cool to know that they make big Saudi government money for playing 1 less day per tournament and against inferior competition.

[ProfessorGAC]

20. I Thought That Too

But, non-golf sponsors apparently have that clause in there, because these guys would be useless to them if not at the profile the Tour provides.
Mickelson lost a handful of sponsors, including SAP. Koepka lost Paychex. I don't blame the companies.
If those guys were club pros, who would care about them? It would be promo money stupidly spent.
DJ had a contract with TaylorMade that had escalators based on FedEx points. Since he's getting none, the escalators amount to nothing.
From what I've read & heard, those contracts are not all locked in.
On Edit: In addition to the article getting the earnings wrong, the actual number doesn't count his winning the FedEx cup. So, he actually earned $30 million more for PGA Tour golf than the article states.

[Srkdqltr]

2. So many thoughts about this.

I don't care what they do. Nothing they do helps or hurts me directly.
I'm not into golf.
That said what she said is not a reason or justification.
The bottom line is money. We all know it. They are bought people like many others. Celebs get paid more because they have a skill the rest of us don't. Different for everyone. I have no idea if it's right or wrong, it just is.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. The salaries of elites is obscene

Pro sports, Hollywood, CEO's .. all the same. It's all a pyramid. Stimulate the masses and pass the money up the income scale. We're like colonies of ants or bees. Hierarchies. It's a lower foundation for civilization than religion. Almost as low as logic and language. Foundational. The footings of the world.

[JT45242]

4. Bullshit lying sack of shit

Other than the four majors, golfers largely choose their own schedule with some input from their major sponsors.

She is lying. She is mad because he has lost a shit ton of endorsement money and stands to lose more. Bonesaw promised these golfers to match their previous winnings regardless of performance with appearance fees in fewer tournaments.

Dustin and his lying POS wife forgot that golfers make more than twice as much on commercials, endorsement, etc than winnings because there aren't associated costs like travel, caddies. Coached. Etc getting a cut of the commercial money.

Apparently, a few sponsors and consumers think that being the lap dog of a guy who listened while a journalist was literally chopped apart while still alive is repulsive.

Go to hell you self inflating, worthless piece of shit.

DJ will never be called 'iowa nice' again because vivisection is frowned upon here. We wouldn't even do it livestock, and certainly not to Kashoggi.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

6. There's a very unsavory connection

[Ferrets are Cool]

9. Great post.

[Johnny2X2X]

7. He'll be sorry

The tour is about more than a few big names. LIV is flopping, no one cares about it. LIV will never be anything, its tournaments are meaningless.

Hand out lifetime bans for all PGA events. There are plenty of young stars to carry the sport without DJ, Phil, and Koepka.

[Ferrets are Cool]

8. And of course, he "can't" take care of them (kids) on a measly $75 million.

And that doesn't count his endorsements. They are all just greedy rich people...making excuses.

[gab13by13]

10. I bet most of the defectors are Magats, Good Riddance.

[gab13by13]

11. There are no losers at LIV tournaments,

every golfer wins money, there is no cut. They all get a participation trophy.

[303squadron]

12. They are all effing traitors

Ask the 9/11 families how they feel about sportswashing the Saudi regime. Ask Jamal Khashoggi's family.

The PGA Tour has banned the LIV traitors but the PGA Tour does not control the 4 majors, so I'm looking to root against these assholes in April, May, June, and July!

[gab13by13]

14. The Masters is not affiliated with the PGA

so it is by invitation but the 3 other majors are based on merit or having won the tournament before so LIV golfers will slip in the world rankings and many will not be eligible for 3 of the majors.

[walkingman]

13. I love Golf....it keeps disgusting white people off the streets.

[chowder66]

16. lol

[Sneederbunk]

15. What a surprise! Professional golfers actually play for money.

[SouthernDem4ever]

17. Blood Money.

[Sneederbunk]

18. The Public Investment Fund of Saudia Arabia holds shares in American companies.

Amazon, Google, Visa, Microsoft, Disney, Nintendo, Uber, PayPal and Zoom, among many others. Where are all the boycotts?

[SouthernDem4ever]

21. Good question.

I guess when people start demanding things to be moral or ethical, you'll see that. Otherwise, who cares, right?

[Initech]

19. Fuck the LIV tournament. I refuse to watch anything owned by the Saudis.

That is also basically a front for a Trump rally.