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Bubba Watson accuses the PGA Tour of being like LIV Golf because he was paid ‘behind closed doors’ on the traditional track by sponsors and organizers – and therefore finds criticism of rebels laughable
Two-time Masters champion turned LIV Golf Series pro Bubba Watson said he was paid “behind closed doors” while on the PGA Tour to appear for “many tournaments,” a Tour rule violation.
Watson, 43, made the comments to ESPN about the uproar from the PGA Tour and LIV critics about the hundreds of millions of dollars being thrown around the Saudi-backed circuit to lure players away from the Tour.
“It makes me laugh because during the PGA Tour I was paid behind closed doors to appear at tournaments, a lot of tournaments,” Watson told ESPN.
And if Bubba Watson isn’t the best, that means the best were paid better than me and more than me. And so it is guaranteed money.
‘I miss the cut, I’m still making money. I make the cut, I earn extra money.’
Watson said he was paid by sponsors and tournament organizers.
Former PGA Tour player Bubba Watson finds criticism of LIV Golf players laughable
He said he was paid ‘behind closed doors’ while on the PGA Tour to appear at ‘many tournaments’
The PGA Tour reiterated to ESPN that it “prohibits the payment of fake money to players as an incentive to play in a particular tournament.”
Watson, who has won 12 times on the PGA Tour, would not say how much he received to participate in events on the PGA Tour.
“I would laugh because we were all guaranteed money to show up in certain places,” Watson told ESPN.
“Win, lose, quit, whatever it is, you still have the money. We’ve all done that. We all play for guaranteed money. The critics, I just have to laugh because that’s what we do. We don’t want to talk about it on tour, but we get it.’
Kevin Kisner, a member of the PGA Tour player’s advisory board, dismissed the idea, saying Watson is talking about contractual sponsorship-related activities, far from paying for play.
The first LIV Golf season ended over the weekend when Dustin Johnson’s team won in Miami
“If Travelers want to pay Bubba Watson to go to a tent, it has nothing to do with the PGA Tour,” Kisner told ESPN.
“Don’t you think Zurich in New Orleans is pressuring guys to play because they sponsor them like the back of their hand? That’s not a sham compensation. That is of course a note that is under contract.’
The first LIV Golf season came to a close this weekend as Dustin Johnson led an all-American team to championship win in the finals at Trump National in Miami.
The breakaway series has been putting golf in the spotlight since its introduction.
The event is supported by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF). It has led to players being criticized for participating in it for its poor human rights record, while opponents have also labeled the competition a “sports wash.”