Major-winning PGA Tour player calls Saudi-backed golf tour a "bad business deal"
Former PGA champion Jimmy Walker said that joining the PGA Tour Champions would be "free money" for him and his family.
Former PGA champion Jimmy Walker described defecting to a new Saudi-backed world golf tour as "not a good business deal."
At the age of 42, Walker has the PGA Tour Champions in his sights which players can join at the age of 50. On this tour, a lot of events don't have cuts so you are guaranteed to win money.
As reported by GOLF.com, Walker has said that he is unlikely to turn down this source of income to play on a world golf tour.
"That’s guaranteed free money for me and my family," said Walker.
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"Why would I endanger that to go overseas constantly and play on a world tour? That just doesn’t make good business sense for me. It’s not a good business deal."
Walker, who won his first and only major championship in 2016, could have a lot to gain with the supposed prize money that is set to be offered by the Saudi-backed golf tour, which is going to be led by Greg Norman.
Norman is the CEO of LIV Golf Investments which is associated with the Private Investment Fund that represents the Saudi Arabian government.
Although Walker has only made one top-10 finish on the PGA Tour since the start of the 2019 season, he would have the chance to win large prize purses for him and his family in the proposed new golf tour.
"I haven’t been approached by Norman or anybody on this new tour and I don’t know anybody who has. But the PGA Tour has said if you participate, you’re out. That’s pretty harsh, but it’s their Tour and if they say you’re out, then you’re out."
Walker is not the only PGA Tour player pondering his future as he ages towards the veteran's tour threshold. Ryan Palmer has not ruled out any actions towards staying on or leaving the PGA Tour.
The four-time winner, who is ranked 41st in the world rankings, is five years away from qualifying for the PGA Tour Champions.
But with regards to the Saudi-backed golf series, Palmer did not rule out joining such a programme and questioned whether the PGA Tour could kick players out. Commissioner Jay Monahan has threatened to do so in the past.
"I’m not going to tell you I would never do it, because everybody will tell you they would never do it until they see what money is involved," Palmer told GOLF.com.
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"What could they pay me over the next five years as opposed to what I could make on the Champions Tour? The Tour has said if you participate, you’re out, but could they enforce that? I don’t know, I’m not a lawyer."
Although we have heard significant developments on the new Middle East golf series, there are still so many questions to be answered.
