IRELAND'S SEAMUS POWER HAS CLAIMED THE MONEY IN GOLF NOW IS "CRAZY"
The newly created Saudi-funded LIV Golf series has offered huge sums to some of the world's top golfers to play in their events.
The likes of Cameron Smith, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and many others have recieved huge sums for partaking in the new formats.
While the likes of Tiger Woods is reported to have turned down 9-figure sum to walk away from the DP World and PGA Tours.
Power, who is competing at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship this week was speaking a pre tournament press conference and admitted that the figures in golf now are mind boggling.
"It's crazy now," he said.
"My caddie and I were talking about this only a couple of days ago. Some of the figures going around, it's just astronomical some of these prize funds and stuff.
ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 18: Seamus Power of Ireland during a practice round prior to the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Yas Links Golf Course on January 18, 2023 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Oisin Keniry/Getty Images)"I'm one of those people that love playing the game of golf. The fact that the prize money has gone up is great, but that's never why I was in it. But it is amazing. Hopefully it leads to good things across the board obviously.
Power, who is now ranked 29th in golf's world rankings also referenced older golfers like the legendary Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus and added that generation wouldn't have played for the money, but the game itself.
"You look at the generations before us and I think (Arnold) Palmer and (Jack) Nicklaus were always the ones that said our goal shouldn't be to make money. Our goal should be to leave the game in a better place than where we found it.
"I think that's something that as a player I hope doesn't get lost in all these huge numbers and stuff. I think that's going to be the battle going forward is to make sure that we hold up our end of the bargain.
Power will tee off alongside Scotland's Robert MacIntyre and Sweden's Alex Noren tomorrow in the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship,
The prize money is £7.3 million (€8.3m)
