Staff WriterIf ever there were a week to keep both eyes on the leaderboard, it’s when LIV Golf Korea drops a purse so plump even the bulgogi is jealous.
The Rebel Tour’s (pardon the May the 4th pun) 2025 stop in the Land of the Morning Calm dished out a jaw-dropping $25 million—$20 million for the solo artists and another $5 million for the boy-band portion of the show, otherwise known as the team event.
Why This Matters
LIV Golf Korea isn’t just another tournament; it’s golf’s version of K-Pop—loud, slick, and impossible to ignore.
With a no-cut field of 54 players and exactly 54 holes, every swing counts.
There’s no Friday afternoon cab ride home for the struggler in plaid trousers; everyone pockets something, even if it’s only cab fare in caddies’ math.
LIV Golf Korea fired its first shot at the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club this weekend—yes, that one, where the 2015 Presidents Cup gave us more drama than a soap opera in a thunderstorm.
With Korea marking the tenth nation to host LIV Golf’s high-octane tour, the stakes remain delightfully exorbitant: a tasty $20 million purse awaits, including a cool $4 million slice for the champion.
Yes, that’s enough greenbacks to make even the calmest golfer’s pulse quicken.
The roster at Jack Nicklaus Golf Club boasted an impressive lineup of talent, featuring no fewer than ten players who once battled fiercely here in the Presidents Cup.
The International squad reunites Branden Grace, Anirban Lahiri, Danny Lee, Marc Leishman, Louis Oosthuizen, and Charl Schwartzel, while the American side sees stalwarts Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Patrick Reed, and Bubba Watson revisiting old turf.
Adding spice to the LIV Golf Korea event, seven players in this week’s field have already tasted professional victory on Korean soil—a factor sure to ramp up the competition a notch or two.
Niemann, with three trophies already gleaming on his mantle this season, sits comfortably atop the individual leaderboard.
Yet, the chase remains tight: Jon Rahm and Sergio Garcia linger menacingly in second and third place respectively, eager to strike.
On the team leaderboard, Rahm’s Legion XIII holds the top spot, buoyed by last week’s triumph in Mexico City.
Garcia’s fiery Fireballs team occupies second, closely pursued by Cam Smith’s Ripper squad in third place, ensuring the drama will extend from individual rivalries right through to team camaraderie.
Show Me the Money: Individual Pay-Outs
| Place | Winnings |
|---|---|
| 1st | $4,000,000 |
| 2nd | $2,250,000 |
| 3rd | $1,500,000 |
| 4th | $1,000,000 |
| 5th | $800,000 |
| 6th | $700,000 |
| 7th | $600,000 |
| 8th | $525,000 |
| 9th | $442,500 |
| 10th | $405,000 |
From there the numbers glide gracefully down the fairway, landing at $50,000 for 54th place—still enough for a lifetime supply of kimchi and a quick tune-up on the private jet.
Notably, 14th place banked $320,000, correcting earlier whispers of a slightly fatter figure.
Even the mid-packers (43rd and 44th) collected matching cheques of $128,000, proving solidarity has its perks.
Teamwork Makes the Green Work
| Finish | Payout |
|---|---|
| Champions | $3,000,000 split four ways |
| Runners-up | $1,500,000 to divvy up |
| Third place | $500,000 for consolation selfies |
Finish fourth or worse? You still get ranking points—plus a chance to mutter “next week” while eyeing the sushi platter at the courtesy lounge.
Pocket Calculator Corner
- Average cheque per swing (for the winner): Roughly $74,000 every time the driver came out to play.
- Total purse since LIV’s launch in 2022: Unchanged at $25 million per regular event, proving that while logos and venues shift faster than a Seoul street market, the cash fountain remains on full blast.
- Cost of finishing last in the old 48-player days: $120,000. Now? $50,000. Expansion has its drawbacks—unless you were player 49 before the roster ballooned.
Beyond the Ledger
Money is the headline, but LIV Golf Korea also showcased packed galleries, neon-lit scoreboards, and enough pyrotechnics to make New Year’s in Busan blush.
The format’s freshness, combined with the tour’s unapologetic swagger, continues to lure eyeballs that once drifted during traditional four-round slogs.
As the circus packs up for its next stop, the message is clear: LIV Golf Korea didn’t just move the needle; it rewired the meter.
Whether you’re thrilled, aghast, or merely counting zeros, one truth stands taller than a triple-deck driving range: in this league, there’s no such thing as small change.
After this showdown in Korea, the LIV Golf bus will pause for a month, returning stateside to Washington, D.C., following the upcoming PGA Championship at Quail Hollow Club in North Carolina.
LIV Golf Korea promises thrills aplenty and a purse capable of changing lives with every swing. Check back here for updates when the dust settles Sunday evening.
