- Like the NFL or NBA, LIV Golf League relies on the franchise system
- 12 teams in the new golf league now have to finance themselves independently
- Here the complete daily cover of SI US read about the innovations at LIV Golf
Would you like to join LIV Golf?
Whether yes or no, at least that’s possible now. Because for the new season, which starts this weekend with the lIV Golf Event in the Mexican golf resort Mayakoba, the 12 teams of the LIV Golf League are franchises, so they can be purchased in their entirety, or they can be supported by sponsors and investors. There is no more money for players and teams from the Saudis’ Public Investment Fund – apart from the lavish prize money of 25 million dollars per tournament.
Tournament winners on the LIV Tour cash in $4 million
Here is an overview of the basic idea of LIV: The LIV Golf League comprises twelve teams of four players each. The players compete against each other in the counting game – i.e. in the individual ranking – as well as in the team ranking. Prize money will be distributed for both competitions: four million per event for the winner of the individual ranking, three million for the winning team.
The teams have names like “Majesticks GC”, “4Aces GC”, “Firewalls GC” or “Crushers GC”. One of the four players per team – usually the most prominent – acts as team captain. For example Phil Mickelson (Captain of the “Hy Flyers”), Ian Poulter (Captain of the “Majesticks”) or Bryson DeChambeau (Captain of “Crushers”).
From now on, LIV golf franchises must finance themselves
So that’s the modalities, now to the innovations: While the players and their caddies were paid four flight tickets plus board and lodging per event last season, it’s now up to the teams to pay for the expenses of their members themselves. In contrast to the inaugural season of LIV 2022, the teams are now independent franchises – similar to the NBA or NFL. The pros themselves have to bang the drum to find owners, investors and sponsors for their teams.
It is interesting how LIV now imagines making money. Bob Harig, Golf Editor of Sports Illustrated US, explains the revenue model as followswrites, “Well, if Phil Mickelson’s Hy Flyers team is sold to a potential franchisee for, say, $100 million, Mickelson will get $25 million. LIV Golf will keep $75 million.”
According to Harig, this is “a way to recoup the millions and millions that LIV spent to start the LIGA.” Fact! And it’s also an opportunity for team captains like Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Co., who already paid for their entry into LIV with bonuses of sometimes 100 million dollars or more, to earn even more money.
So the new franchise concept is definitely welcome. According to Phil Mickelson, the former world No. 2 in golf, LIV offers “some incredible opportunities, especially on a global scale”.
Franchise system at LIV Golf – the question arises: who buys a golf team?
As popular as the new concept is, especially among those who hope to make a lot of money from it, questions also arise at the start of the second LIV season:
The first is by popularity: Because before you read this text, did names like “Smash GC”, “Fireballs GC” or “Hy Flyers GC” mean anything to you? If not, then you are not alone in your ignorance. The LIV Golf League can only be received on free TV for the new season, at least in the USA, thanks to a deal with the media company CW Network.
So the second question is: Who buys a franchise that, viewed globally, hardly anyone knows about? And at what price? Basketball, football, and baseball teams have been sold and bought, but never a golf team.
And: LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman imagines future events of the LIV Golf League, such as NFL or NBA games, where golf fans wear polo shirts from the “4Aces” or “Majesticks” like basketball fans wear a Warriors or Bulls jersey ?
We can be excited.
These sums are available for players and teams this weekend at LIV Golf Event in Mayakobato earn Mexico:
2023 LIV Golf Mexico prize money individual classification
Winner: $4 Million
2: $2,125,000
3. $1,500,000
4. $1,050,000
5. $975,000
6. $800,000
7. $675,000
8. $625,000
9. $580,000
10. $560,000
11. $540,000
12. $450,000
13. $360,000
14. $270,000
15. $250,000
16. $240,000
17. $232,000
18. $226,000
19. $220,000
20. $200,000
21. $180,000
22. $172,000
23. $170,000
24. $168,000
25. $166,000
26. $164,000
27. $162,000
28. $160,000
29. $158,000
30. $156,000
31. $154,000
32. $152,000
33. $150,000
34. $148,000
35. $146,000
36. $144,000
37. $142,000
38. $140,000
39. $138,000
40. $136,000
41. $134,000
42. $132,000
43. $130,000
44. $128,000
45. $126,000
46. $124,000
47. $122,000
48. $120,000
2023 LIV Golf Mexico prize money team classification
Sieg: $3,000,000
2: $1,500,000
3. $500,000
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