Super Golf League: Could it happen?

What is clear is the amount of money available to tempt players to sign up, with Bryson DeChambeau reportedly offered an eye-watering £100million. Asked if he had received a similar offer to the £22million supposedly dangled in front of Ian Poulter, Dustin Johnson’s smile as he responded “not similar” suggested the former world number one’s incentive is far higher.

Will the players take the money?

Lee Westwood, 48, admitted last year it would be a “no-brainer” to sign a multi-million-pound contract at this stage of his career and it would be understandable if players of a similar age were equally tempted by a massive payday.

Phil Mickelson also conceded that the threat of the SGL has given players “leverage”’ to squeeze more money out of the PGA Tour.

What might stop them?

Rory McIlroy has already stated his opposition and labelled the proposals a “money grab” similar to football’s European Super League, while Jon Rahm, Tiger Woods, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth have either said or implied they are not interested.

Players have also been warned they face bans from established tours and potentially the Ryder Cup if they were to defect.

What about ethical concerns?

“One hundred per cent, there’s a morality to it as well,” McIlroy said when confirming he would not play in the second edition of the Saudi International in 2020, but he appears to be in the minority.

Despite Amnesty International describing the tournament as “yet another big-money sportswashing operation” designed to distract from the country’s “appalling human rights record”, most players hide behind claims of “growing the game” and proclaiming “I’m not a politician”.

What happens next?

It remains to be seen if enough players sign up to make the Super Golf League viable and whether the tours will follow through with their threat of bans, which may or may not be legally enforceable.

The safest bet would seem to be that lawyers as well as players could enjoy a financial windfall.

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