Showdown will be played for a huge amount of money.
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It’s done in fashion in the recent history of professional golf for players to espouse their belief that money it’s not at the heart of what makes golf great.
At least four of those golfers make Tuesday’s made-for-TV golf match, Copingpitting two of the PGA Tour’s most beloved stars (Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler) against two LIV stars (Brooks Koepka and Bryson DeChambeau). Remember that half the field squandered huge sums to leave their workplace for a new, morally murky start. Remember that the other half has hardly been the picture of pro-golf meritocracy. These four golfers have all admitted at the last and farthest point that they play golf for something bigger than money, and considering their shared competitive resumes, we’re inclined to believe them.
Thankfully, though, the business of professional golf pays the same for a full 65 weekend, whether you spend all day reading John Wooden’s book. The Pyramid of Success or your last bank statement. And in the case of those who have done it Copingthe golf business pays very well.
In addition to a rumored multimillion-dollar appearance fee paid to each of the four contestants on Tuesday night’s event, the foursome will be playing for a grand prize: 10 million dollars.
Of course, the money comes with a bang. The bag will be washed in the evening sponsor’s currency, Crypto.com. Winners will receive the equivalent of $5 million in the crypto-based currency “CRO”. (Whether they choose to hold the line, bet on a second crypto renaissance, or cash in on the real thing remains to be seen.)
While the money is not enough determination of inheritance for those in golf’s rich modern era (Scheffler earned $62 million on the course in 2024 alone)it is still a large amount. Well done to four of golf’s best for getting their share of this, and well done to the rest of us for getting a fun Tuesday evening of golf in the middle of December.
