They have been chastised for snatching at a cash-grab, but as LIV’s golfers descend on Adelaide, it’s fair to say that they’ve put their newfound riches to good use.
Last year, the likes of Cam Smith, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka shocked the world of golf by turning their backs on the PGA Tour for the controversial Saudi startup, led by Aussie legend Greg Norman.
Queenslander Smith was lured by a deal worth approximately $140million, Koepka pocketed $100m, while American veteran Phil Mickelson – who has reportedly amassed $1billion in prize money – earned $200m from the move.
Here, Daily Mail Australia takes a look at the glamorous lifestyles of LIV Golf’s biggest names as they prepare to do battle in Adelaide for the first time.
LIV golf stars are living luxurious lifestyles after making the switch to the new competition
Cam Smith
The Brisbane-raised golfer, 29, calls Jacksonville in Florida home – and his luxury residence is decked out with a man cave for the ages, a fully stocked bar and pristine water views.
World No.6 Smith – who beat US star Cameron Young by one stroke to hoist the British Open trophy at St Andrews last year – purchased the mansion for a little over $3.5million in April 2020.
Spanning 5,350 square feet on a .55-acre lot, the layout includes an open-plan living, kitchen and dining area.
When guests stop by, there’s a built-in bar as well as an al fresco lounge area with palm trees, a race simulator and a grilling space with a huge television outside.
A few metres away is access to Smith’s ‘play toy’, a Front Runner 39 boat, which he uses for fishing and to cruise the nearby waterways.
Smith could certainly afford an upgrade if he so chooses, with the Australian pocketing a reported $140million after joining LIV Golf last year.
Last year’s British Open champion Cameron Smith is living it large away from the greens – with his bogan mansion in Florida (pictured) the envy of many blokes around the world
Spanning 5,350 square feet on a .55-acre lot, the layout includes an open-plan living, kitchen and dining area that’s ideal for throwing parties (pictured)
The larrikin Aussie hasn’t forgotten where he came from, sporting a XXXX beer T-shirt as he gave a guided tour of his home to PGA Memes (pictured)
Brooks Koepka
Koepka’s luxurious lifestyle was showcased on Netflix’s Full Swing series, in which a camera crew were invited into the golfer’s exclusive property in Jupiter, Florida, which he shares with partner, Jena Sims.
There are a number of garages at the Jupiter property for Koepka and Sims to park their cars, while in front of the entrance are two palm trees surrounded by a stone and grassy pathway.
Inside the property, there are two plush sofas in a huge living room that looks out to the back garden, while Koepka also showed off his impressive range of trainers – in which he owns at least 84 pairs.
There is also a sunken sofa fitted next to his large swimming pool outside.
Koepa is now worth a staggering $74million, according to reports. He has sponsorship partnerships with Srixon, Rolex, Netjets, as well brands Nike and Michelob Ultra.
Brooks Koepka’s Florida home was flaunted on Netflix’s new docuseries, Full Swing
His exclusive property boasts a swimming pool with a sunken sofa situated close by
There are two plush sofas in the living room in the home he lives in with his wife Jena Sims
Koepka, 32, and Jena Sims, 34, met in 2015 at the Masters tournament.
‘That’s so special because I’m from Georgia, so it’s perfect,’ she explained to Golf Digest. ‘We were on hole seven, which I don’t even remember, but he’s like, ‘Oh, I remember what you were wearing, where we were standing, everything.”
Jena explained that she was a longtime golf fan and had always grown up watching the sport because her dad liked to watch the sport.
They then announced that they were engaged in April 2021, after more than five years together. The duo shared the exciting news via Instagram, with Jena posting a few photos of the magical moment Brooks dropped down to his knee and asked her to marry him.
‘Forever is no joke,’ Jena said in the caption of her pics.
In another post, she called it the ‘best day of her life.’
The romantic proposal took place on a beach near their home in Jupiter, Florida. The golfer was wearing a white Givenchy t-shirt, black pants, and white sneaks, while Jena opted for a light purple mini-dress and white Nike sneakers.
Keopka met Sims (pictured above), 31, at the 2015 Masters and got engaged six years later
Bryson DeChambeau
Big-hitting DeChambeau invests plenty of time into bulking up away from the golf course.
The 1.85m American spent lockdown working on his physique and now weighs roughly 110kg. As a result, there are few golfers in the world who can drive the ball as far as the 29-year-old.
But it’s not been an easy process for DeChambeau. He detailed his calorific diet in an interview with Golf.com back in 2021…
Breakfast: Four eggs, five pieces of bacon, toast, two protein shakes
Snack: GoMacro protein bar
Lunch : Peanut butter and jelly sandwich, protein shake
Mid-round snacks : At least two protein shakes out on the golf course
Post-round snack : Another protein shake
Dinner: Steak, potatoes
Evening snack: Two protein shakes
Total calories: 6000.
Reflecting on his huge diet, DeChambeau told Golf.com : ‘Well, I’ll start off by saying I don’t necessarily eat anything or everything I want.
‘There is this overlying principle of a two-to-one carb-to-protein ratio, so that is first and foremost. I try and retain that throughout the whole day with everything I eat and drink.’
DeChambeau is dating Sophia Phalen Bertolami, 27, although the pair keep their relationship relatively private. It’s unclear when exactly they started dating but their first photo together was posted online in June 2018.
Dustin Johnson
Dustin Johnson’s wife hit the headlines at Augusta earlier this month when she was labelled by fans as ‘the world’s sexiest caddy’ after carrying her husband’s clubs in a white jumpsuit in Georgia.
Johnson, 38, and Paulina Gretzky, 34 – who is the daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky – first met in 2009, but they didn’t start dating until 2013.
Dustin Johnson, 38, and Paulina, 34 – who is the daughter of hockey legend Wayne Gretzky – first met in 2009, but they didn’t start dating until 2013. They are pictured in September 2021
The pair (pictured in 2020) were linked in the beginning of that year, and they got engaged soon after, with Paulina – who has worked as a model, singer, and actress – gushing that she had ‘never been happier’ after he popped the question
Gretzky was labelled the ‘world’s sexiest caddy’ when she helped Johnson at the Masters
‘I don’t know if you can call it a date since my dad tagged along,’ she later told Golf Magazine of their first get together. ‘That’s how it goes in our family.’
And according to Paulina, her dad was an instant fan of the athlete, and after meeting him for the first time, he even advised her to marry him right away.
She opened up about her dad’s first impression of her husband during an ‘Ask Me Anything’ Instagram session; when a fan questioned what her father’s first impression of Dustin was, she replied, ‘He told me I should marry him.’
The pair were linked in the beginning of that year, and they got engaged soon after, with Paulina – who has worked as a model, singer, and actress – gushing that she had ‘never been happier’ after he popped the question in August 2013.
Then, in September 2014, the pro golfer and his model fiancée announced that they were expecting their first child together. She gave birth to a son – named Tatum Gretzky Johnson – on January 19, 2015.
Gretzky has been very open about her marriage to the golf superstar
‘Paulina and I are happy to announce the arrival of our baby boy, who was born in Los Angeles on Monday morning,’ he said in a statement at the time.
‘Both Paulina and the baby are healthy, resting comfortably, and in great spirits! We sincerely appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received and plan to release further details in the coming days!’
After the arrival, Paulina couldn’t stop gushing about Dustin’s parenting to People Magazine.
‘Dustin’s the best dad. He’s my best friend. He’s been so supportive with me and we’re just there for each other,’ she said.
Their second son, River Jones Johnson, arrived in June 2017, with Paulina writing at the time, ‘I’m so thankful for my family and the new addition.’
In 2018, the couple faced trouble in paradise when rumors started to spread that they had split. At the time, Paulina had deleted all of her photos with Dustin from Instagram, but she soon cleared the air on Twitter.
‘Every relationship goes through its ups and downs, but most importantly, we love each other very much and are committed to being a family,’ she wrote. ‘Thank you for your love and support.’
Phil Mickelson
American veteran Phil Mickelson has played at golf’s highest level for decades, and his longevity in the sport has resulted in him pocketing an eye-watering wage.
According to reports, the 52-year-old is said to be worth $462million – which is 13 times the value of footballer Cristiano Ronaldo’s fleet of luxurious cars.
Mickelson was paid $305m to ditch the PGA Tour for the Saudi upstart last year and over the course of his career he has earned over $1billion in prize money.
The six-time major winners owns a Bentley Continental GT – worth around $296,000 – and an Aston Martin Vanquish which is worth short of $370,000.
Mickelson has been married to his wife, Amy, since 1996 and the pair share three children – Sophia, Evan and Amanda – together.
Ian Poulter
English veteran Ian Poulter can add to his ever-growing Ferrari collection with the reported $37m-$46m he pocketed from his switch to LIV.
The 47-year-old is an unashamed Ferrari fanatic, and bought his first supercar after winning the Italian Open in 2004.
‘I won the Italian Open, and I thought: ‘Right, time to buy a Ferrari,’ he told GQ Sport. ‘But once I’d paid my caddy and the tax, it didn’t leave enough for one. I won the Moroccan Open in 2001, and the cheque from that didn’t quite stretch to a Ferrari.
Ian Poulter boasts an amazing collection of Ferraris at his home in Orlando, Florida
‘But my third victory, the Italian Open again, I thought it was an omen, and I headed straight to Maranello concessionaires (famous Ferrari dealer in Egham, Surrey) and picked up a Ferrari 360 Modena. Which I kept for a few years.’
Poulter has a purpose-built garage at his home in Orlando, Florida, which boasts a stunning car collection, including a Ferrari 275 GTB/4, Ferrari 288 GTO, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari 550 Barchetta, Ferrari FF and a Ferrari Enzo.
‘I’m lucky, I have a close relationship with the factory, and hopefully that’ll continue. I had the first tailor made FF in the US. I’ve created a museum in Orlando, which they like. We did a great job on it, I have to say.’
