Winning vs Money

Piggy backing off of the genie and wish thread, here's a question for folks.

Which would you rather have..............Just one win, we'll even make it a major or have a boat load of 2nd place finishes and another boat load of money?

Major. Not into the always a bridesmaid type of thing. After the major win I would retire.

One Masters win.

It's basically the Shaun Micheel vs. Charles Howell III argument (even though Howell has won three times he's notched tons of runner-ups on TOUR for two decades).

I'd still take the major win, though.

Major. The Open.

Can't think of anything more rad than hearing " ... and champion golfer of the year ... "

Runner up and money. If you win you are the best, why try? Always coming in 2nd is a great motivator to get your shit together and stay focused

Give me a bunch of second place finishes and boatload of money. Take this week for instance, winner is $1.3m, second is $817k. 2 2nd place finishes is worth more in the bank than 1 win.

I don’t have the ego that I need to be first. Let me make $800k/week playing golf and I would never complain about not winning. As it is now, I PAY to play and don’t make anywhere near $800k/year, let alone per week. Some people are just far too hung up on being first. Fill my bank with money and you can keep your first place.

The scenario has to be something pretty extreme like this because in reality winning the major comes with a whole lot of lifetime opportunities, endorsements etc.

The tougher question for a lot of people might be a high profile career like stricker/westwood/kuchar vs a lesser career, but with a major.

Travel the world play 20 tournaments a year and make 2-4M a year for 15 years... You can keep the majors Ill take the runner ups

i'd initially say 'money', and add that anyone that says differently is fooling themselves ... but a major with very little afterwards is an extreme ... don't think endorsements and all that would be that much if you just tanked it after a major win ... but it would be enough to let you glide through life a bit and still say you're a major winner ... racking up $30 million in winnings over a career with no wins (or a couple) is also desirable, for equal reasons ... would jeff maggert trade his 2 wins and lifetime of money for one major and, say, 70 % less in money? ...

Here’s a pro on the subject;

“There are maybe 10 guys out here playing for history. By that I mean it crosses their mind, on somewhat of a regular basis, how fans will remember them 50 years from now, if at all. Each era has room for only so many names. Obviously, Tiger and Phil. Probably Ernie and Vijay. Rory's on his way, and a guy like Bubba has a chance. John Daly won only two majors, but he'll sure as heck be remembered—maybe with his version of Graceland.

On the other side, I'd say the vast majority of us are playing strictly for the money. You've got to play your ass off just to be relevant right now.

Sure, guys want to win and get trophies—I have two—and more than a few appreciate the concept of their place in history, but anybody with their head on straight knows that's just a byproduct of doing well. Make checks, get into events, keep your card—you've got to play pretty damn good to do that.”

Undercover Tour Pro

Masters. Lifetime exemption to Augusta and a nice extended exemption on the tour so you get the best of both worlds

the $

I spoke with a pro about this. He plays the Asia tour, Canada tour, some in the states. He says it's a nice living. Playing golf, traveling, etc. It's better then a real job.

I'd take the consistent money, the travel, etc. It's not always about the big win. It's just a great way to live, if you like that kind of life.

The money no question. We are all here working to be as comfortable as possible and if we are lucky leave that to our kids as well. The major doesn’t mean squat if you are selling vitamins or whatever in 10 years worrying about making payroll. “Oh. You won the PGA back in ‘20? That’s awesome - go ahead take off that box of electrolyte wafers, I don’t like them.”

Pile of money please. I’ll gladly answer all the 11 handicaps at the club who ask why I didn’t have the balls to win. Tell them it’s a tough career choice, but top 100 pays well. How does the 99th guy at his job do?

The money and the lifetime of memories playing the world on the tour! Easy!!!!

How many 2nd place finishes and how much money?

Big difference between 5, 20 or 50...

At some point the 2nd place finishes overwhelms the Major imo.

Money and runner ups. Rickie Fowler is the perfect example of this. No majors but has made a nice chunk of change, 38M since 2009 not including endorsements.

Take the money and runner-ups. Playing golf for a living sure beats being a desk jockey.

The article by the tour pro I posted agrees.

The one exception...

The Masters

Brian Davis played on the Tour, never won a PGA event and his career earnings are $13M.

Sign me up, now.

You can't take the money with you.

Champions are forever.

Not really - once you are dead, you are dead. Absolutely nothing matters to you at that point - money, wins, "legacies", whatever - you are just a pile of compost.

2nd place finishes? No way. I’d settle just to make the cut. Last place Harry Higgs made $15375. Play 40 events That’s $615000 per year. That will do me thanks.

Hmmmm. Play 40 events = at least $60k in caddie fees and $100,000 in travel if you are frugal and bargain shop. Also gets you a ticket back to the KF Tour. I’d pass on that deal and take the 1 major win.

1 major gets you $1.5m ish and at least a year of invites into the no cut events. Even if you completely lose your mind you collect another $500k in earnings after 1 major win. I’ll assume a guy earned his way into a major via tour player route and not local/sectional qualifying so he likely has earned at least $1m on the course before getting into the field. I’ll take that total over the one $600k season that probably leaves you overextended in the house/car/lifestyle department.

The Majors every time.

i remember a poll taken of nfl players ... if they'd go to the highest bidder or the team with the best chance at a title ... overwhelming majority said take the money ... being remembered for accomplishments on the field might not mean that much to people that put so much time/effort into being a pro ... they might want to be remembered for something a little more important, like being a good husband/father/neighbor ... money can accomplish a lot more than a single title ...

Basically, we are talking Shaun Mícheel vs Briny Baird.

The extra 3 million that Briny has versus Shaun means I am taking Briny all day long just as long as I don’t have to wear the hat.

Once you factor in the $100k travel and $60k caddie expenses, that leaves approximately $475k. If a person is overextended at $475k/year, they're a friggin moron and deserve to lose it all. People every day pay mortgages, car notes, and raise children on well less than $100k/year and live comfortably enough. If a person cant make $475k/year work, that's on them.

But your $475k is ONE year. Not every year. Making 40 cuts and finishing last every week gets you zero status the following year.