Rory McIlroy pocketed $1.6 million for winning the PGA Tour’s RBC Canadian Open — but thanks to the upstart LIV league, the payout was far from the biggest this weekend.
McIlroy fired a final-round, 8-under 62 on Sunday to top Tony Finau by two shots for his second Tour win this season, raising his season earnings to $6.5 million and putting him fifth all-time on the money list ($64M).
But on Saturday in London, Charl Schwartzel received $4.75 million for winning the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational Series in London — the richest golf event in history. It was an epic flex for the controversial, Saudi-backed series that has convinced several big Tour players to defect.
- The winner’s share was more than Schwartzel made the last four years combined on the PGA Tour ($3.2M).
- Hennie Du Plessis earned $2.1M for second-place in London, while Andy Ogletree won $120,000 for last.
- Meanwhile, Finau collected only $948,000 for second at the RBC, and last-place Dawie van der Walt earned $17,835.
Twenty PGA Tour pros have signed on with LIV so far, but some of the game’s biggest stars have refused, including McIlroy.
After his victory, he took a shot at LIV CEO Greg Norman, pointing out that his 21st career Tour win was “one more than someone else.” Norman won 20 in his career.
McIlroy will look to continue to turn the screws on LIV members at this week’s U.S. Open in Brookline, Massachusetts — he’s the favorite (+1000) to win his fifth major.
