Opinion: Money talks in the Saudi Golf League, Byrson banks R2 billion

Johannesburg — Money talks, and when it comes to elite professional golf the conversation is even louder when it’s about the Saudi Golf League (SGL).

On Wednesday it emerged that American sensation Bryson DeChambeau was offered $135 000 000 or just over R2billion to be the ambassador for the SGL.

For comparison, Tiger Woods made $60m in endorsements in 2020. Another interesting amount is the $460 000 Woods collected with his first Major victory at The Masters in 1997, when golf experienced a major popularity and money boom. It also shows how much money has been injected into the game.

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It therefore seems that the SGL has some huge sway with its access to incredible finances, which it aims to use to fund this new breakaway golf tour. The SGL will not form part of either the US PGA Tour or DP World Tour (formerly European Tour).

DeChambeau at 28-years-old has not even entered his peak golf years, and has already won a Major when he claimed victory at the 2020 US Open. Before that victory, DeChambeau dramatically transformed his body type during the Covid-19 enforced break of top-level golf competition. He returned to the fairways 18 kilograms heavier and with radically increased driving distance which now routinely sees him drive it 40 metres past his competitors.

For all these reasons, and a fiery temper and controversial opinions, DeChambeau makes for the perfect poster boy for a new tour.

Fellow American PGA Tour campaigner Jason Kokrak, who is more a regular tour campaigner than DeChambeau, said on the  5 clubs podcast  to host Gary Williams:

“Competition is good. The Saudi Golf League or the Premier Golf