LIV Golf's top earner on another planet compared to rivals after £2.9m bank boost
Talor Gooch has added a whopping £2.9 million to his bank balance after clinching the title at LIV Golf Andalucia earlier this month. The Oklahoma native showcased his skills on the greens and fairways of Real Club Valderrama, edging out Jon Rahm by a single stroke with an overall score of eight under par.
His team, Smash GC, finished in a respectable T3 position alongside Dustin Johnson's 4Aces, with Gooch, Jason Kokrak, Graeme McDowell and team captain Brooks Koepka ending the three-day tournament at even par when combined. Rahm's Legion XIII topped the team standings at five under, closely followed by Sergio Garcia's Fireballs at three under.
Despite the Smash players splitting £371,000 for their performance in Spain, it pales in comparison to the staggering £2.9m Gooch pocketed for winning the individual tournament. LIV Golf, known for its generous prize money and relaxed schedule compared to the PGA Tour, has allowed some of the world's top golfers to amass considerable wealth since its inception.
In 2025, the LIV roster boasts big names such as Bryson DeChambeau, Ian Poulter, Phil Mickelson and Lee Westwood, to name just a few. While each of these golfers has managed to carve out an impressive career under the Saudi-backed breakaway league, no one has been as handsomely rewarded as Gooch.
To date, the 33-year-old has earned a staggering £47.8m, including an incredible £13.3m for finishing as LIV Golf's Individual Champion in 2023, reports the Mirror US. Gooch has participated in 45 LIV Golf events overall, winning four in total.
His first victory came in April 2023, when he clinched the top spot at LIV Golf Adelaide with an impressive score of 19 under par, before doubling down just a week later at LIV Golf Singapore. His third win was at 2023's LIV Golf Andalucia in July, and his most recent win at the same event earlier this month takes his total to four.
For context, before making the move to LIV, Gooch had only one win on the PGA Tour at the 2021 RSM Classic and a 2017 win on the Korn Ferry Tour's News Sentinel Open. His move to a different banner has evidently paid off.
As for the next highest earner on the LIV roster, Johnson has reportedly made £43.6m from 45 events to date, also including his £13.3m award for winning as the 2022 Individual Champion. Elsewhere, Joaquin Niemann, Rahm and Cameron Smith round out the top five highest LIV earners with fortunes of £40m, £36.8m and £34.2m respectively.
Despite a string of successes under the LIV banner, Gooch is yet to clinch his first major title, having not made it into the top 10 of the big four so far. His best shot was at the 2022 Masters, where he managed a T14 finish alongside golfing stars such as Min Woo Lee, Harry Higgs, Kevin Na and Tommy Fleetwood.
LIV players do not earn Official World Golf Ranking points, which puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to qualifying for major tournaments compared to their PGA counterparts. As a result, Gooch missed out on the Open Championship last weekend.
While several LIV stars did make it to the esteemed major held at Royal Portrush this year, only DeChambeau managed to break into the tournament's top 10 with an overall score of nine under. Tyrrell Hatton secured a T16 finish, Johnson had to settle for T23, and Rahm, Garcia and Westwood ended Sunday's play with totals of three under, finishing at T34.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler ultimately took the crown in Northern Ireland on 17 under, four strokes ahead of second-place Harris English. It marked the 29-year-old's second major of the year following his triumph at the PGA Championship back in May, and the fourth of his career overall.
While he's in a strong position to secure the much-coveted Career Grand Slam at next year's US Open, he'll be keen to put his T7 finish at this year's event behind him - a tournament where many of his contemporaries also found the going tough due to the punishing conditions at Oakmont Country Club.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Patrick Mahomes' mom pleads for help as family member fights rare cancer
The family of Patrick Mahomes is asking for prayers and donations as a young relative of the Super Bowl-winning quarterback battles a rare form of cancer. Luka was 'perfectly healthy' until the day he turned eight months old. But then he inhaled swimming pool water while on vacation and was later rushed to the hospital. Luka was last month diagnosed with stage L2 intermediate neuroblastoma, a cancer that affects around 800 children in the United States every year. After a large tumor was found 'pressing' on Luka's lung, he went in for surgery and was in the ICU for five days. He also began chemotherapy and this week, Mahomes' mom Randi made an emotional plea to help Luka, who is the grandson of her cousin. 'Please join me in continuing to pray for my cousin's grandson. Sweet Luka is still fighting Stage L2 intermediate neuroblastoma,' she wrote on Instagram. 'He is undergoing chemo and fighting hard. Please pray for this sweet family as they are going one of the hardest trials of their lives.' Randi also posted a link to a GoFundMe page to support Luka. At the time of writing, it was already close to its target of $9,000 to help his parents, Cassie and Carlos. It comes just a few months after Randi, who donated $500 to Luka's fund, lost her father in the wake of this year's Super Bowl. Randy Mahomes, the grandfather of Chiefs quarterback Patrick, passed away in February after battling an unknown illness. His death came just five days after Patrick, and Kansas City, lost in the Super Bowl to to the Philadelphia Eagles. Now the family faces more heartache as Luka continues to battle neuroblastoma. The GoFundMe page, set up late last month, revealed that Luka had 'moved out of intensive care and is on the oncology floor.' The child's loved ones explained: 'His chest tube still remains in place and is still draining. His next round of chemotherapy will take place on June 25th, and the oncologists are hoping that after the second round, the fluid draining from his lung will subside. 'His parents, Cassie and Carlos, have remained by his side since he was admitted. Since his mother, Cassie, is an ICU nurse, she will be unable to work the duration of his treatment for fears of bringing illness home to her immunocompromised child.
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Alan Shearer makes Alexander Isak feelings perfectly clear amid request to leave Newcastle
Alexander Isak has expressed a desire to explore options away from Newcastle and Alan Shearer admits his exit is likely - but maintained the club would move on Newcastle legend Alan Shearer admits it "sounds like Alexander Isak is going to leave" but maintained that "no individual is bigger than the club". The Swede, who has been at St James' Park for three years, has told the Magpies that he wants to explore his options relating to a move away from the club. Isak is yet to sign a new and improved deal, but does have three years to run on his current contract. Newcastle have maintained that Isak is not for sale whilst they value him at well over £100million. The ex-Real Sociedad star has excelled since moving to England and has marked himself out to be one of Europe's elite No 9s. Despite having lofty ambitions Newcastle are not among Europe's elite sides, but have returned to the Champions League and landed a trophy. Shearer fears Isak is more likely to leave than stay, but hopes Eddie Howe can convince the 25-year-old to remain committed to the project at Newcastle. Liverpool have emerged as the striker's most likely destination with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea pursuing other targets. Newcastle claimed that Isak's pre-season absence is injury-related, which Shearer laughed off, but he insisted the club will survive and move on. He told Betfair: "It's ridiculous what Newcastle put out this morning to say he wasn't on the trip because of a slight thigh injury. If they thought people wouldn't see through that… it was disappointing. They should've just told the truth straight away. I understand it's a very difficult situation for them but it is what it is. "Eddie Howe has to use all his persuasive powers to do what he can and try to make him stay at least one more year. If that can't happen then it is what it is. You have to get the very best deal for the football club and if someone is prepared to pay north of £150million, and if he really, really wants to go, you can't step in his way. "Isak has been brilliant for Newcastle, helped us achieve our dream of winning a trophy and if there's no way whatsoever that he can be persuaded to stay at Newcastle, then they have to get the best deal possible and if someone's prepared to pay what they want, you have to say thank you and build for the future. There's no individual bigger than the football club." Newcastle have been able to keep hold of their major stars since their Saudi owners took over. However the possible departure of Isak, who scored 27 times last term, would be a blow to the club. They have reportedly eyed Benjamin Sesko as a possible replacement for the Swede.
Scottish Sun
5 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Luke Shaw ready to quit Man Utd with injury-hit star offered mega-money swansong in Saudi Arabia
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) LUKE SHAW faces a Manchester United exit and the injury-hit star could be gone by January. England left-back Shaw, 30, is aware of serious interest from Saudi clubs and is ready to listen to offers. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Luke Shaw could be on his way out of Old Trafford Credit: Rex He still has two years left on his Old Trafford contract but fears his Red Devils career might be nearing an end. Shaw made just 12 appearances last season after missing the first three months with a prolonged calf problem and is facing limited opportunities. He did start May's 1-0 Europa League final defeat to Tottenham but in a back-three due to a shortage of centre-backs. Shaw is likely to be behind Patrick Dorgu in the left-back pecking order and Ruben Amorim also has high hopes for new boy Diego Leon who has signed for £3.3m from Paraguayan club Cerro Porteno. The physically imposing 18 year old played the first half of last weekend's 0-0 friendly draw with Leeds in Sweden and the Amorim said: 'He did really well. 'He's learning things, he's powerful, he's going to be a very good player.' Meanwhile, Diogo Dalot has been a regular starter a left wing back in the United chief's favoured 3-4-2-1 system. Shaw is in the United squad that begin their pre-season tour of the USA with a clash against West Ham on Sunday - and also featured against Leeds - but knows he is liable to be making up the numbers once the Prem kicks off next month. 4 4 Youngster Diego Leon is tipped for a big future at United Credit: Getty BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS His United career began in heartbreak with a double leg break due against PSV in only his eighth game back in September 2015. Shaw later revealed that surgeons considered amputation due to blood clots discovered in the after-math of the injury. Man Utd hunting Jackson as Chelsea's demands revealed | Transfers Exposed That cost him eleven months on the sidelines and began a nightmare run of problems that has seen him miss almost FIVE YEARS of his United and England career. Shaw is seen as a popular and influential figure within the dressing room and Amorim is in no hurry to dump him or his £150,000 a week wages. But the player himself is determined to make up for so much lost time and knows he faces a tough decision on his future over the coming months. Should he decide to leave it is unlikely United would be difficult to deal with in terms of a fee considering all those injuries and his lack of appearances - only 27 in the last two campaigns. Amorim, meanwhile, is not prepared to break the bank for a new No 9. Fans hoped Alexander Isak's decision to tell Newcastle he wants out of St James' Park might encourage United to bid. But with United's spending on Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo topping £130m this summer, the club are not in a position to go large unless there are significant exits. SunSport revealed Chelsea's Senegal star Nicolas Jackson was eyeing Old Trafford as a potential destination, but the Blues want £80m for him. But United are in no position to push the boat out - opening the door for under-pressure Rasmus Hojlund to stake his claim during the three-match Premier League Summer Series tournament against West Ham, Bournemouth and Everton. On Thursday night Aston Villa moved to dismiss reports United had proposed an audacious swap deal, offering rebel Alejandro Garnacho in return for England striker Ollie Watkins. 4 TRANSFER NEWS LIVE - KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
