Does Xander Schauffele ever feel tired? Not by churning out top-tens, but by the talks surrounding purse size. The media coverage on the inflated purses is “really negative” Schauffele admitted. But the two-time major champion is more intrigued than infuriated.
When asked if the $25M payout at Tour Championship has a ‘$25M-feel’ – because there are nine events in the regular schedule that offer $20M or more – Schauffele said, “Us players, I think the players that make the most money don’t think about money because it’s just not the most important thing. To answer your question, yeah, I mean, winning $25 million would be really cool and really nice, but I don’t think it’s going to change my life.”
If it boils down to one putt between Scottie Scheffler and Schauffele at the Tour Championship, that one-putt will be worth $12.5M – the difference in paycheck between the winner and runner-up. But Schauffele insists that’s not what he will be most bothered about. Rather the missed put will cause a headache.
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USA Today via Reuters
Mar 14, 2024; Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA; Xander Schauffele talks with his caddie during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship golf tournament. Mandatory Credit: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports
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But it’s worth remembering why money is the focal point of conversation nowadays. This year, the Tour’s average purse size is north of $11M. In 2021, the last season before LIV Golf’s arrival, the average purse was near $9M.
The unprecedented spike has jeopardized the PGA Tour’s relationship with a few longstanding sponsors. Although Tour Commissioner, Jay Monahan, has found replacements, it is still a matter of concern how far the sponsors are willing to go if the push continues.
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Schauffele also pointed out another reason for the negative rap Golf gets. It’s not uncommon for NFL or NBA stars to rake in $40-$60 million a year. So, why not in Golf? Xander Schauffele believes it’s more to with the distribution chart than a person’s income.
Xander Schauffele weighs in on Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler has already pocketed over $29M this season. If the world no.1 wins the Tour Championship, Scheffler will receive another $25M. Overall, without endorsement, Scheffler is likely to rake in some $60M. Comparably, LeBron James’s salaried income is estimated to be around $48M.
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Schauffele, however, points out it looks more jarring because of the difference between the no.1 player and the no.10 player. James’s $47M contract money is not the highest in NBA, rather it’s the same as the 9th highest-paid NBA star, Nikola Jokic. What differentiates the two is the endorsement: James earns $80M, compared to Jokic’s $8.5M. Obviously, that’s not the case for Golf.
Xander Scahuffele adds, “If you look at how much 10th has made, the 10th best player in the world has made, it’s not going to sniff how much Scottie has made. That just shows you how well Scottie has played in these big tournaments.” The world no.2 believes, thanks to Scheffler, who has won six times this season, it looks more lopsided than it actually is. He means it as a compliment, though.
