Luke Donald goes to great lengths for a steak
Not only is Luke Donald one of the premier golf players in our time, but he is also a knowledgeable foodie, so when he found out that in addition to being paid in cash for winning the Dunlop Phoenix Tournament in Japan he would also be paid in Kobe beef, he was ecstatic.
While most players trade in the cow for cash on the spot, Donald knew what he was getting, a cow valued at $160 per pound, and so he decided to have it shipped back to his house so he could enjoy a nice steak (or several). The problem was that the cow could not be shipped back. Not about to give up, Donald sought out the help of friends to get the cow shipped overseas to his home in the United States.
Donald found a team of importers with the help of a chef friend, and after a few months of negotiating (because the importers apparently were getting some meat from the deal too) Donald was able to go home with 200 pounds of kobe beef, worth about $80,000. The entire process took six months, but Donald finally got his cow shipped to the United States, and then it was time to fire up the barbecue.
While Donald certainly could have traded in the cow for cash on the spot, and made quite a bit of money at that, he’s content to sit back this summer and enjoy a nice steak with his friends and family. When asked if it was worth it Donald had no doubt.
“Definitely the best beef I’ve ever had,” he said.
