World number Scottie Scheffler has been told to thank LIV Golf after his remarkable season on the PGA Tour.
Scheffler added $25 million to his 2024 earnings after winning the season-ending Tour Championship at East Lake; the American certainly enjoyed a profitable year.
Tiger Woods’ former coach, Hank Haney, however, believes Scheffler’s increased winnings come directly from LIV Golf’s influence.
Hank Haney: LIV Golf has been massive positive for Scottie Scheffler
Jon Rahm banked $22 million after LIV Golf’s Individual Championship in Chicago, taking his season earnings near the $40 million mark. That’s on top of the mammoth $300 million signing-on fee the Spaniard was paid for turning his back on the PGA Tour.
Haney has now suggested the money present on LIV has had a massive impact on Scheffler’s paycheques during the 2024 season.
“Scottie Scheffler made $64 million this year on the PGA Tour. $64 million. He got $25 million for the season-ending Tour Championship,” Haney said on the Hank Haney Podcast.
“Where do you think all that money came from? That money came from the LIV. If it wasn’t for the LIV, the players would not have played for the amount of money they played for last year.”
“So everybody in the game of golf, not just Jon Rahm, everybody got money. All the top players especially got more money than they probably ever dreamed possible, and it was all because of LIV and what it has done to professional golf.
“It has made it so that top players are making a lot more money and they are playing a lot less. I don’t think this is going to change.”
The American continued: “I can’t believe how much money the players in professional golf have made this last year. It is absolutely unbelievable. Deep down, every one of them has to think – man alive, what a pay rise we got because of the LIV. That is the bottom line.”
LIV Golf has changed the money game for Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm
According to Forbes, Rahm is currently the second highest-paid athlete in professional sports behind football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.
Rahm’s total earnings are reportedly $218 million, which is more than Lionel Messi, Lebron James, Kylian Mbappe, Steph Curry and Neymar.
Considering the next golfer – Rory McIlroy – is 19th on the list, LIV’s influence cannot be understated.
After the record-breaking Tour Championship prize at East Lake, Haney may have a point on the breakaway league’s financial impact.
As talks between the PIF and PGA Tour continue, 2024 could mark the start of golf becoming one of the highest-paid sports.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
