LIV Golfer Bubba Watson reveals he was paid behind closed doors to play on the PGA Tour

Watson reacted to the attitude of the PGA management, who from the beginning has criticised the huge sums spent by the rival series, financed by Saudi Arabia, in order to lure players over.

"I have to laugh about it because back on the PGA Tour I was getting paid behind closed doors to play in tournaments, many tournaments. And if Bubba Watson isn't the best, it means the best are getting paid more than me and more often than me," he said.

"It was some money. Even though I didn't make the cut, I still made money. If I made the cut, I made extra money. Everybody did it, it just wasn't talked about," he added.

Watson said he was getting paid by sponsors and tournament organizers, but the holder of 12 PGA Tour titles did not specify how much money he collected or the amount at which events.

PGA Tour officials, when asked by ESPN, simply stated that the rules prohibit the payment of entry fees to players in an attempt to entice them to participate in tournaments.