The riches of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) has made the Middle Eastern state one of the biggest players in sport, and its move into professional golf has been one of its biggest.
PIF opted to pledge its finances behind the LIV Golf setup, and the mega-money backing of the Investment Fund has skyrocketed the breakaway league to the top of the golfing pyramid. LIV's meteoric rise has not been a quiet one, with the game's leading circuit the PGA Tour trying its best to thwart the progress of the Saudi-backed league.
Sadly for the PGA Tour, money talks, and the breakaway league have since been able to lure in some of the game's biggest names who in turn were rewarded with lucrative signing bonuses.
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The latest big name tipped to make the Saudi switch is Masters champion Jon Rahm, and if the Spaniard does sign on the dotted line it has been suggested he will become the league's biggest earner. In recent days a number of reports have claimed Rahm could be handed a mammoth £475 million ($600m) if he does part ways with the PGA Tour.
At this point Rahm's links to the breakaway league are unconfirmed rumours, but if they are to come true the Masters champion would make LIV Golf history with his alleged signing bonus. From Phil Mickelson to Brooks Koepka, here is a look at some of the biggest reported signing fees.
Phil Mickelson
Arguably LIV's biggest coup proved to be six-time major champion Mickelson, and since his move the left-hander has become somewhat of a poster boy for the Saudi-funded series. He appeared to state his allegiances to the rebel league months before it was eventually formed in June 2022, in a now infamous interview with Fire Pit Collective.
Mickelson proceeded to open up on his links to the PIF, describing those in charge of Saudi Arabia as 'scary mother f******' amid their poor human rights record. The American however had already made his mind up, and was rewarded with an alleged £159 million ($200m) signing fee when joining the LIV setup.
Cam Smith
The most in-form player LIV Golf was able to lock in was Aussie star Cam Smith. Just weeks after becoming Open champion at St Andrews and announcing himself as the second-best golfer on the planet, Smith confirmed that he had joined the breakaway league.
Opening up on his decision in the aftermath, Smith admitted he decision was a business one, with money playing a part in the move. And that comes as no surprise, with an eye-watering figure of £113 million (£143m) signing bonus reportedly handed to the Aussie on the back of his Saudi switch.
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Dustin Johnson
A second big name to join the initial wave defectors led by Mickelson was former Masters champion, and PGA Tour staple, Dustin Johnson. In the wake of Mickelson's Saudi comments in February 2022, Johnson played down any chance of him making the Saudi switch by 'committing' to the PGA Tour.
Things quickly changed for the former world No. 1 though. Just four months later it was announced that Johnson had in fact opted to sign on the dotted line with Norman and co, and according to the Telegraph it was a £100 million ($125m) signing bonus that proved enough to twist his arm.
Brooks Koepka
Like Johnson, Koepka was one of the many PGA Tour stars to pledge their loyalties to the American-based circuit when rumours of a Saudi Golf League initially surfaced early last year. He too opted to go back on his word, as he joined the LIV setup following the end of their maiden event at Centurion.
Speaking in February 2022, the five-time major champion claimed: "Somebody will sell out and go to it," when discussing the potential of a rival Saudi league. And this somebody turned out to be Koepka himself, who allegedly earned a £79 million ($100m) bonus for his change of heart.
Bryson DeChambeau
In the years leading up to LIV Golf's formation, Koepka found himself embroiled in a fierce rivalry with fellow star Bryson DeChambeau. Despite being rivals on the PGA Tour, the pair soon became allies when DeChambeau also opted to join LIV last summer.
Similarly to Koepka, the former U.S. Open champion was lured in with a mega-money offer, also receiving a reported £79 million ($100m) signing fee for pledging his allegiances to the Saudi-backed series.