Will Zalatoris Declined a MASSIVE Offer from LIV Golf

PGA TOUR up-and-comer and fan favorite Will Zalatoris declined a massive contract from LIV Golf, and the details come from none other than Masters Champion and legend Freddie Couples.

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According to Couples, Zalatoris was initially offered $35 million to leave the Tour in favor the the Saudi-backed LIV Golf, which has persuaded names like Dustin Johnson, Cam Smith, and Phil Mickelson away from the PGA Tour and to the 54-hole format golf league. But it doesn’t end there.

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After Zalatoris’s initial rejection, LIV offered $95 million more for Willy Z to head to their league, as the second offer was $130 million, according to Couples.

Couples has a good source, as he and Zalatoris share the same agent. But Freddie had some more harsh words for the LIV Tour during an interview with the Orange County Register, stating that he doesn’t know anything about LIV, but “they overpay all of them.”

Zalatoris quickly became a notable name on the Tour following his performances in Major Championships over the past few years. At the ripe age of just 26 years old, Zalatoris has already finished 2nd in three of the four majors, including the Masters in 2021, the PGA Championship last year, where he lost in a playoff to Justin Thomas, and the U.S. Open, where his putt that would have sent the tournament to a playoff missed by a fraction of an inch. The miss gave Matt Fitzpatrick his first major title.

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Money surely is not an object for LIV, and it is enough to pull some names away, especially ones that were successful on the PGA Tour but may not have entered the winner’s circle as much as they liked.

Harold Varner left the PGA TOUR for LIV last year and cited that he knew the move would upset some, but he was unwilling to give up the comfort it would give him and his family and how it would help him set up more charitable causes that could help others.

Zalatoris seems more concerned with winning trophies and golf’s biggest prizes, which is why he’s likely remained on Tour.

After all, his over $16 million in career earnings is nothing to bat an eye at.