Charl Schwartzel, a former Masters champion, has raked in $4.75m (PS3.86m), after winning the richest tournament in golf.

Schwartzel was forced to resign from the PGA Tour in order to participate in the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf tournament. It is an unannounced series.

The move was financially successful – the $4m for his win and $750,000 for his part in a team victory were more than any South African had earned over the past four years.

After the three-day event at Centurion club, St Albans in Herts, Schwartzel stated: “Never in all my wildest dreams did i think we could play golf for that much money.

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“Where the money comes is not something…that I have ever seen in my 20-year career.”

“I believe that if you start digging around where we played, there could be fault in everything.”

Twenty-five players have defected from PGA Tour to LIV Golf. However, none of these defections are ranked among the top 10.

LIV Golf is under fire for receiving its funding from the sovereign fund of Saudi Arabia, headed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In 2018, he allegedly ordered the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, Washington Post journalist. The country also holds mass executions and persecutes gay, bisexual, and transgender persons.

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Why is LIV Golf the most controversial sport in today’s world

Many Americans also associate Saudi Arabia and the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. All but four of the 19 hijackers were Saudis.

Terry Strada, Tom’s husband, was killed in the attacks. She is now the national chairperson for 9/11 Families United.

She wrote to LIV Golf representatives, saying that “When you partner up with the Saudis you become complicit in their whitewash and help give them reputational cover they so desperately desire – and are willingly to pay handsomely for to manufacture.”

“The Saudis don’t care about deep-rooted golfmanship or its origins as a gentlemen’s game based on core values of mutual respect, personal integrity, and other human rights.

They want professional golf to improve their reputation and they pay you to do so.

Greg Norman, LIV Golf’s chief executive, didn’t speak to the media after the tournament, but he spoke during victory ceremonies, declaring that the event was a “force of good”.

He didn’t address the criticisms of Saudi Arabia’s role.