Talor Gooch, a former PGA Tour player, has become the highest-earning golfer on LIV Golf, amassing over $56 million in winnings. His success has come with controversy, particularly due to his outspoken comments about the PGA Tour and his fellow golfers, including Rory McIlroy. This article explores Gooch's rise to prominence, his rivalry with McIlroy, and the impact of LIV Golf on the world of professional golf.
Hailing from Oklahoma, Talor Gooch has surprisingly topped LIV Golf's rich list, amassing over $56 million in winnings. While his move from PGA Tour to the controversial LIV Golf circuit has been lucrative, he's also drawn criticism, with Rory McIlroy caught in the crossfire. The Midwest City-born former OSU star left the PGA after a victory at the RSM Classic and quickly made waves not just for his remarkable play but for stirring trouble off the green as well.
Gooch's 2023 season was exceptional, landing him the staggering $18 million jackpot, propelling him up the earnings list, and solidifying his status within the tour. Nevertheless, his significant achievements often seem eclipsed by his notorious antics, particularly involving Northern Ireland's golf champion McIlroy. Explaining his decision to shift in 2022, Gooch expressed his vision for the sport: 'I met with the leadership within LIV and saw the vision they had for the game of golf on a global level, and seeing where golf could go and the growth it could potentially have,' he said. His performance since joining has been nothing short of meteoric, featuring an initial $580,000 windfall in London followed by a team win in Portland with the 4Aces. Post-victory at Oregon is when Gooch infamously took aim at PGA Tour traditions, reports the Irish Mirror. Gooch openly compared his LIV experiences to prestigious team events, saying: 'I haven't played in a Ryder Cup or a Presidents Cup, but I can't imagine there's a whole lot of difference. This is as cool as it gets,' as per reported remarks from the Mirror US.In early 2024, two years post his Ryder Cup revelation and a season after pocketing his $18 million prize, the prospect of PGA golden boy McIlroy securing the Masters sparked some chatter from US golf star. 'If Rory McIlroy goes and completes his (career) Grand Slam without some of the best players in the world, there's just going to be an asterisk. It's just the reality,' Gooch candidly told Australian Golf Digest. Northern Ireland's golfing gem had already bagged the US Open, PGA Championship, and Open Championship in his career, with a Masters win completing a career slam. Gooch's comments clearly ruffled McIlroy, but the 35-year-old chose to give his American rival the benefit of the doubt. 'The asterisk, look, The Masters is an invitational, and they'll invite whoever they think warrants an invite,' McIlroy fired back. 'To be fair to Talor, if you read the entire - the question and then the answer - it's not as if he just came out with that. I feel like whoever did the interview led him down that path to say that, so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt there a little bit.' In an unexpected turn of events, the PGA of America extended an invitation to Gooch for the 2024 PGA Championship in May. Despite making the cut, the American's performance was less than stellar, finishing at -4. While he's known for occasionally making waves with his comments, Gooch's performance has noticeably stepped up since his move to LIV Golf. Taking a moment to look back on what's been deemed his best year yet professionally in 2023, Gooch offered a heartfelt admission. 'You know, I've always felt that I was good enough to be a professional golfer and play against the best in the world,' he reflected. 'And you know, now to be here too, I think to consider myself one of the best in the world.' He then delved into his childhood aspirations, saying, 'It's what I've been dreaming about since I was nine years old. To get to this point in my career and to have this validating of a season, yeah, words can't describe how much it means and just how satisfying it is.
LIV Golf Talor Gooch Rory Mcilroy PGA Tour Golf Controversies Earnings Success Rivalry Professional Golf
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