[Leonardo]

To suggest Tiger Woods would prefer spending time hustling CEOs than entering the US Open is flat out ridiculous. Why do you think that poker pro's have nothing to prove? They have everything to prove, to themself, to people who dont believe, to the public at large. The appearance fees that pro golfers take are to play tournaments and miss out on regular season PGA tour events, but they NEVER EVER take an appearance fee to miss a major. They are playing to compete, to prove to themselves and others that they are great golfers. Ask a rookie pro golfer if he would prefer to play an old man for $150k (which he is guaranteed to win) or play in the US Masters, where his EV is certainly less than that, and I guarantee he takes the US Masters. Its called competitive nature. As for your mentioning cash games over big tournaments, Id suggest that playing in a big cash game is much more competitive than playing a tournament. The WSOP for example is not what it used to be. When it started, it wasnt hugely +EV to play for a pro, because it was mainly the best people playing. Now any hack plays and it is large +EV for a good tournament player, but the competition isnt as strong as sitting in a huge cash game. The very best at most sports/business/games play for the competition, thrill and satisfaction that comes with beating the best. To suggest that money is the only motivation is just wrong.