Inside the wild world of LIV Golf as glamorous WAGs party after finale as its revealed Greg Norman’s rebel tour has spent $1.2BILLION in its first year – and which star golfer says he hasn’t earned enough
The first year of the controversial LIV Golf tour is in the books and players – and their partners – are partying like it’s 1999.
The final event of the season, the LIV Team Championship, is currently being played at the Donald Trump-owned Blue Monster at Doral in Miami.
Greg Norman’s rebel tour had a troubled birth as protestors and detractors slammed golfers for taking Saudi Arabian money to defect from the PGA Tour.
Paulina Gretzky with friend Kristina Melnichenko and Brooks Koepka’s wife Jena Sims in a stunning dress at the LIV Golf season finale in Florida
Dustin Johnson wonders how much more money he can shake out of this thing after a blockbuster year in the first season of LIV Golf that earned him almost $50million
But with players and their families being paid out an eye-watering $1.2 BILLION in its first year, few are complaining.
Few that is, except for American star Dustin Johnson.
The inaugural LIV Golf individual champion finished in the top 10 of all-but one of the seven events held this year and pocketed close to $50 million for his troubles, but the American said that was below expectations.
Dustin Johnson and his wife Paulina Gretzky at the welcome party for the LIV Golf season finale at Donald Trump-owned Blue Monster at Doral in Miami
‘I’ve done okay. I didn’t quite reach my goal. But yeah, I’m happy with it so far.’ Johnson said.
While Johnson may be a touch salty about his pay packet, there are no such issues in the Pat Perez camp.
Pat Perez has been able to extend his career with LIV Golf after he admitted that he could no longer compete with the younger players on the PGA Tour
He cashed in with a four-year $10 million deal and is just happy to be playing golf outside of the PGA Tour where he knew he could no longer be competitive.
‘I couldn’t be happier,’ he told SI Golf.
‘Look, I know I can’t beat those kids anymore. This was a great opportunity for me.
‘I have nothing against the PGA Tour; they did a lot for me, but I had to earn everything I got out there.’
Johnson may have good reason to wish he had pocketed more in the LIV Golf maiden season, with his wife Paulina Gretzky spending big in the year-long party.
Gretsky and LIV golfer Brooks Koepka’s wife Jena Sims have not been shy in posting photos of the never-ending party that the rebel tour has been able to provide.
Those images included behind-the-scenes images of the welcome party to the season finale.
Sims made a bold statement with her dress for the LIV Golf season finale welcome party in Florida and has been enjoying all the riches the rebel tour has brought
Sims posted images of her physics-defying dress held together by industrial strength wire with the caption: ‘I know I’m a handful, but that’s why he has two hands’.
Her husband Koepka is also likely to let his hair down, given LIV Golf gave him a second chance after his PGA career looked dead and buried.
‘The last two years haven’t been fun. It’s been a long road,’ he told the Associated Press.
‘I didn’t know if my career was over for half a second. So it’s nice to be able to come back and be able to win.’
Cameron Smith, winner of the LIV Golf Invitational-Chicago tournament stands with third place finisher Peter Uihlein, left, and second place finisher Dustin Johnson
Australia’s highest-profile LIV Golf defector Cameron Smith also has reason to smile after winning his maiden LIV Golf title in September.
It comes after he won The Open on the PGA Tour before jumping ship, bringing his combined earnings for 2022 to around $15.8 million.
The rivers of gold are set to flow even more freely in 2023, with the number of LIV Golf events to double from seven to 14 and spending to increase to around A$1.56 billion.
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