The PGA Tour has denied Bubba Watson's claims that he received money to appear in several events before defecting to LIV Golf.
Two-time Masters champion Watson hit back amid widespread criticism of LIV Golf after becoming the latest star to sign up for the Saudi-backed breakaway circuit in July.
LIV Golf has come under scrutiny for luring players from golf's status quo by offering up lucrative financial packages but Watson alleges it is also common practice on the PGA Tour.
“So, the critics say you can’t play golf with guaranteed money?” Watson said in an emotive interview with The Times . “Good question. Well, when I was on the PGA Tour, I was getting paid money behind the scenes to show up at events from sponsors."
But PGA bosses denied the claims and insisted any payment of appearance money to stars in order for them to play was 'prohibited', reports ESPN .
The PGA Tour responded by saying it "prohibits the payment of appearance money to players as an inducement to play in a particular tournament."
Kevin Kisner, who is part of the player advisory council, suggested Watson was referring to sponsor-related activities rather than payment from tournament organisers.
He said: ""If Travelers wants to pay Bubba Watson to go do a tent visit, that has nothing to do with the PGA Tour.
"You don't think Zurich in New Orleans is pressuring guys to play because they're sponsoring them on their sleeves? That's not an appearance fee. That's an off-course endorsement that's under contract."
Watson, who has been sidelined for five months with injury, suggested he had been paid by organisers as well as sponsors.
"I'd laugh at [criticism] because we all had some guaranteed money to show up at places. Win, lose, quit, whatever it is, you still got the money," he stated.
"We've all been doing that. We've all been playing for guaranteed money. The critics, it just makes me laugh because that's what we're doing. We don't want to talk about it on tour, but we are getting it."
