Stop us if this sounds familiar: A group of well-heeled investors are seeking to lure a sport’s biggest stars with large bonuses to join a breakaway tournament.
It’s more than déjà vu. A Saudi-backed group of organizers has reached out to top golf players, guaranteeing eight-figure bonuses in the hopes of filling 12 four-person teams that would compete in 15 to 18 tournaments around the world.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan has threatened an immediate ban and lifetime suspension of any players who join the breakaway league.
- Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Hideki Matsuyama, Adam Scott, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, Rickie Fowler, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Justin Rose have all been approached with offers ranging from $30-$50 million.
- Players would also be part-owners of the tour.
- Rory McIlroy has said he is not interested in the concept, but Mickelson is intrigued. DeChambeau, Rose, Stenson, Scott, and Fowler are considering offers per Telegraph.
If the parallels with the recent attempt at a breakaway league in European soccer weren’t strong enough, the tournament is being referred to as either the “Premier Golf League” or “Super Golf League.”
The league reached out to players in 2020 but lost steam when McIlroy declined to participate, and then the global pandemic put plans on hold.
Current plans would see the league’s first events start in September 2022. What could go wrong?
