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USA Today
10 hours ago
- Business
- USA Today
At two-year anniversary of PGA Tour, LIV Golf 'framework,' two sides are further than ever
At two-year anniversary of PGA Tour, LIV Golf 'framework,' two sides are further than ever So much has happened since the PGA Tour and LIV Golf entered a historic "framework agreement" two years ago, June 6. One thing that has not happened: A deal uniting the two leagues. Not only have the sides failed to end the sport's longest-running civil war, they now appear further apart than ever. The PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, which owns LIV Golf, have had no reported meetings since late February. The sides met twice in February at the White House with Donald Trump, the man who, after being elected president in November, boasted it would take him "the better part of 15 minutes" to bring the two sides together once he's in office. Five months since the inauguration and the wedge appears deeper. "If you want to figure out what's going to happen in the game of golf, go to the other tour and ask those guys," world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler said in May about LIV. "I'm still here playing the PGA Tour. We had a tour where we all played together and the guys that left, it's their responsibility, I think, to bring the tours back together. Go see where they're playing this week and ask them." Scheffler's shot at LIV was clear. While the league certainly made an impact on the Tour early by poaching some of its top players along with forcing the Tour to make more money available to its players through signature events and the Player Impact Program, that has diminished. Lynch: Prepare for posturing on anniversary of Framework Agreement that already achieved its goal LIV's momentum stalled since signing Jon Rahm LIV had all the momentum after signing Jon Rahm 18 months ago. That is gone. Tyrrell Hatton followed Rahm, but, since then, the league has not attracted any marquee names. The latest addition, former Arizona State standout Josele Ballester, is No. 5 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Meanwhile, the top-ranked amateur, Luke Clanton from Florida State, is making his professional debut at the PGA Tour's Canadian Open. "I want to play the PGA Tour, pretty simple," Clanton said when asked whether he considered joining LIV. "I want to play against the best, I want to compete in majors, and that's it. Simple." The PGA Tour is now in a position of strength as LIV stands firm on its demands to remain under its current format, despite a flawed business model. While the PIF's investment in LIV Golf is in the billions, the return on investment is far less. LIV lost $394 million in 2023, excluding its U.S. events, according to Money In Sport, which published LIV's financials from LIV Golf's UK arm. Although PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan said in March he can see a future where the leagues are aligned with room to "integrate important aspects of LIV Golf into the PGA Tour platform," he added that "hurdles" remain. "We will not do so in a way that diminishes the strength of our platform or the very real momentum we have with our fans and our partners," said Monahan, who has headed the negotiations with the PIF's Yasir Al-Rumayyan. Monahan's comment came a few weeks after negotiations appeared to have broken down during the late February meeting. The biggest hint came from Rory McIlroy, who said following the meeting it takes "two to tango," before adding, "I don't think the PGA Tour needs a deal." Then Scott O'Neil, who replaced Greg Norman in January as LIV's CEO, told a group of media members in April at Trump National Doral, where LIV held its first U.S.-based event of the season, LIV, too, does not need a deal. "Have to do a deal? No," O'Neil said. "Nice to do a deal? So long as we're all focused on the same thing, which is growing the game of golf. I think we're all kind of up for that." The most recent known offer was in March when the British daily Guardian was the first to report that the PIF was willing to make a $1.5 billion investment into the for-profit PGA Tour Enterprises in exchange for LIV Golf continuing its current format and schedule, and Al-Rumayyan becoming a co-chairman of PGA Tour Enterprises. That was quickly turned down by the Tour. LIV Golf still being crushed by PGA Tour in TV ratings The ratings boost LIV was counting on to help its cause after signing a multi-year deal with Fox Sports has not happened. According to the seven Sundays this year in which both tours have held an event, the PGA Tour is averaging 3.1 million viewers on CBS and NBC, while LIV is averaging 175,000 on FOX, FS1 and FS2. About 18 times more. LIV, though, held its first four events in Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore; and has since played in South Korea. Those tournaments are being aired at all hours of the day in the U.S. The best comparison came in early April when LIV had one of its highest-profile events of the year, if not the highest, at Doral; and the PGA Tour stop was the Valero Open in San Antonio, a lower-tier event that lacked several stars. Valero drew 1.746 million viewers for its final round compared with 484,000 for LIV. LIV's best ratings were below the average for TGL, the indoor, tech-infused golf league created by Tiger Woods and McIlroy. TGL, in its inaugural season, averaged 500,000 viewers; 650,000 for the 10 prime-time matches on ESPN (nine were carried by ESPN2). LIV's initial attempt to lure PGA Tour players was impressive with Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Phil Mickelson among those who made the jump. They were later joined by Cam Smith and Rahm. While Rahm and DeChambeau continue to play at a high level – as do others such as Joaquin Niemann and Patrick Reed – several have regressed since joining LIV. Koepka, Johnson and Smith, who have combined to win eight major championships and were signed to contracts worth at least $100 million to defect from the PGA Tour, according to reports, missed the cut at the year's first two majors – Masters and PGA Championship. LIV Golf not going away … deal or no deal Still, LIV Golf continues to operate as if it will be around … deal or no deal. While the league has not added a golfer of note in the past 18 months, it continues to secure sponsorship deals and attract high-level officials. And O'Neil has restarted discussions with the Official World Golf Ranking for LIV golfers to earn points. The PGA Tour clearly does not need LIV. And with PIF, valued at more than $900 billion, willing and able to support LIV despite it losing hundreds of millions of dollars annually, LIV doesn't need the PGA Tour. That leaves many to wonder whether a deal ever will be made that unites golf's rival leagues. Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@
Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Cameron Young net worth: How much does the young American golfer earn?
Cameron Young is making headlines for his exemplary performance in the US Open qualifying. The American professional golfer secured his spot in the US Open by winning a five-man playoff at the Columbus, Ohio, qualifying site. Young, 28, left his mark as he edged out top players such as Max Homa, 34, and Rickie Fowler, 36. This achievement adds to Young's growing reputation in the golf world. Earlier in his career, the New York native golfer made headlines by carding a historic 59 during the third round of the 2024 Travelers Championship, becoming only the 13th player in PGA Tour history to achieve a sub-60 round. His consistent performances and rising profile suggest that he will be a player to watch in the upcoming US Open and future tournaments. However, that's not it. Young's remarkable rise in his sports career is raking up an ample amount of money as well. Let's take a look. Net worth of Cameron Young: As of 2025, American professional golfer Cameron Young has an estimated net worth of approximately $17 million, reportedly. This financial success is attributed to his impressive performances on the PGA Tour, strategic endorsement deals, and prudent investments. Let's look at a detailed breakdown: Career earnings: Since turning professional in 2019, Young has demonstrated remarkable skill and consistency. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo His career earnings have steadily increased, with significant contributions from tournament prize money and the PGA Tour's Player Impact Program. In the 2021–22 season, he earned over $6.5 million, setting a record for the most official money earned by a rookie in a single season. In 2023, he accumulated approximately $5.9 million, including earnings from both official and unofficial events. His largest paycheck came from a runner-up finish at the 2023 WGC-Dell Technologies Match Play, where he earned $2.2 million. Endorsement deals: Young's growing prominence in the golfing world has attracted several lucrative endorsement deals. Notably, he signed a four-year partnership with iCapital, a global fintech platform, in January 2023. Additionally, he has secured sponsorships with major brands. These endorsements not only provide financial benefits but also enhance his visibility in the golfing community. Real estate investments: Beyond his earnings from golf and endorsements, Young has begun to diversify his income through real estate investments. In 2024, he invested in a property in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, valued at approximately $2 million. Young lives in the same property with his family, consisting of his wife and child. Future outlook With his consistent performance on the PGA Tour, strategic endorsements, and sensible investments, Cameron Young is well-positioned for continued financial success. As he advances in his career, his net worth is expected to grow, solidifying his status as one of golf's rising stars. Do you know how much Shah Rukh Khan's manager Pooja Dadlani earns annually? Her net worth will blow your mind
Forbes
15-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The Methodology Behind The World's Highest-Paid Athletes For 2025
For this year's list of the world's highest-paid athletes, Forbes tracked income earned between May 1, 2024, and May 1, 2025, based on conversations with dozens of industry insiders. Most asked to remain anonymous, but Forbes would like to acknowledge DODICI Sports Management's Mariano Trasande and the motorsports data firm Formula Money. Forbes also consults news reports and salary databases such as Capology, Over the Cap and Spotrac. All figures are converted to U.S. dollars using current exchange rates. The on-field earnings figures are rounded to the nearest $100,000 and reflect prize money, salaries, bonuses and, in some situations with soccer players, club-based image rights agreements or playing wages subsidized by team or league sponsors. In cases where players continue to receive paychecks beyond May 1 for a regular season that is concluded by then—as in the NBA—Forbes assigns the full season of salary. Playoff bonuses are included for the 2024 MLB and NFL seasons and the 2023-24 NBA season. Athletes are not credited for salary they forfeited during league-imposed suspensions. Illustration by Neil Jamieson for Forbes For golfers, the on-field figures include bonuses from the PGA Tour (including its Player Impact Program) and TGL, as well as annual payments that some athletes receive from LIV Golf, carrying over from their initial deals to join the upstart Saudi-backed tour. (Based on conversations with more than a dozen industry experts, Forbes estimates top-tier LIV players received half their guarantees upfront while lower-tier players received smaller sums in bulk. Forbes generally estimates any remaining guaranteed money is being paid in equal annual installments across four-year contracts.) The off-field earnings figures are an estimate of sponsorship deals, appearance fees and memorabilia and licensing income for the 12 months leading to May 1, 2025, plus cash returns from any businesses in which the athlete has a significant interest. Forbes does not include investment income such as interest payments or dividends but does account for payouts from equity stakes athletes have sold. The off-field earnings figures are rounded to the nearest half-million, except when under $1 million. Forbes does not deduct for taxes or agents' fees. The list includes athletes active at any point during the 12-month time period.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Paul Azinger says Tiger Woods could bring 'global media' focus to PGA Tour Champions
Paul Azinger believes the anticipation will be higher than ever a year from now with Tiger Woods. At stake is his age — Woods turns 50 in December — and whether he will compete in the PGA Tour Champions. Azinger, now the analyst on the 50-and-older circuit, said his effect could be enormous. 'You've got all those giant names on this tour and you bring Tiger in, I think the global media shows up immediately. I'm talking about global media,' Azinger said last week on a conference call to promote the Chubb Classic in Florida next week . 'Then all of a sudden the focus is on this tour,' he said. 'A lot of guys are going to be in shape and ready and try to beat Tiger if they can.' One of them already did, with some help. Bernhard Langer and his adult son, Jason, beat Woods and 15-year-old Charlie in a playoff at the PNC Championship in December. Azinger took it one more step by suggesting Woods 'might even feel an obligation' to play the PGA Tour Champions. 'The Tour has given Tiger a lot of money the last few years with that Player Impact Program,' Azinger said, referring to the needle-moving bonus program that provided Woods $45 million despite him not playing much because of injuries. 'I'm sure he's going to give back, and it's going to be to all the benefit of these guys out here that are over 50,' Azinger said.
NBC Sports
05-02-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Paul Azinger says Tiger Woods could bring 'global media' focus to PGA Tour Champions
Paul Azinger believes the anticipation will be higher than ever a year from now with Tiger Woods. At stake is his age — Woods turns 50 in December — and whether he will compete in the PGA Tour Champions. Azinger, now the analyst on the 50-and-older circuit, said his effect could be enormous. 'You've got all those giant names on this tour and you bring Tiger in, I think the global media shows up immediately. I'm talking about global media,' Azinger said last week on a conference call to promote the Chubb Classic in Florida next week . 'Then all of a sudden the focus is on this tour,' he said. 'A lot of guys are going to be in shape and ready and try to beat Tiger if they can.' One of them already did, with some help. Bernhard Langer and his adult son, Jason, beat Woods and 15-year-old Charlie in a playoff at the PNC Championship in December. Azinger took it one more step by suggesting Woods 'might even feel an obligation' to play the PGA Tour Champions. 'The Tour has given Tiger a lot of money the last few years with that Player Impact Program,' Azinger said, referring to the needle-moving bonus program that provided Woods $45 million despite him not playing much because of injuries. 'I'm sure he's going to give back, and it's going to be to all the benefit of these guys out here that are over 50,' Azinger said.
