Golf legend John Daly has long refused to throw dirt on top PGA Tour players defecting to LIV Golf despite a three-year-long sports civil war.
The 59-year-old is one of golf’s most iconic players, having won two majors in the 1990s, while also having a one-of-a-kind personality. Daly, who recently had a starring role in Adam Sandler’s Happy Gilmore 2, earned just over $10 million in PGA Tour prize money but north of $50M due to endorsements and other revenue streams.
However, the California-born Hooters advocate lost most of his fortune gambling, and Daly is believed to be worth around $2M today.
Many top PGA stars defected to LIV Golf starting in the summer of 2022, including Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Cameron Smith, and Joaquín Niemann. The most significant contract is believed to be around $300M to Spaniard Rahm, and Daly issued a passionate defense of former PGA players playing in LIV Golf due to the money on offer.
“So if you win a major now, I think it’s like three million buck. I hate the fact that people have judgement on our guys going to LIV Golf. You’re born, you live and you die. If someone offers me a $150m, that’s taking care of my family,” Daly said on his podcast earlier this year.
“That’s what you’re born for, to make money, have a family and take care of them. I’m not saying the PGA Tour don’t do that, they do, but not on a one-time basis to only play 14 events. $150M to play the LIV tour for four years on these contracts. I’d have to do it.”
However, Daly has also welcomed a potential merger, that would bring the PGA and LIV Golf together, alongside the DP World Tour, ending the three-year golf civil war.
He said during an appearance on Rob Schmitt Live: “We’re obligated, we have to play in 15 events a year, on the PGA Tour. Our Champions tour is a little less, but to keep our insurance and to keep our 401Ks, our retirement plans going.
“But you know, hey, if those guys want to go to LIV and they’re going to pay them a lot of money, you’re going to play 29 tournaments because you have to play 15 on our tour, and you got to play 14 on theirs. That’s the end of the solution. Let’s go play golf.”
DON’T MISS
He added: “Golf’s a global game and everybody should have the opportunity to play… You’re born, you live, and what is it for?
“To make sure you take care of your family. LIV Golf is taking care of some people’s families, and that’s the way I look at it.”
