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According to Greg Norman, the CEO of the circuit, Tiger Woods declined a $700–$800 million offer to play in the LIV Golf Series, which is sponsored by Saudi Arabia.
In a Fox News interview that aired on Monday, former No. 1 Norman was asked by Tucker Carlson if it was true that Woods was offered $700-$800 million to join the LIV Golf series.
Norman had previously disclosed to the Washington Post in June that Woods had been given a substantial sum of money to take part but had declined it. The Woods plan, according to Norman, was “mind-blowingly big; we’re talking about high nine digits.”
Some well-known golfers have left the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour to join the contentious tour in exchange for large monetary rewards.
Major champions Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen, Graeme McDowell, Charl Schwartzel, and Martin Kaymer have all joined the breakaway endeavor, which has promised players enormous money to participate.
The Public Investment Fund (PIF) of Saudi Arabia, a sovereign wealth fund led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has funded the LIV Golf series and promised to provide $250 million in total prize money.
The fact that players have abandoned golf’s conventional setup and accepted money from a nation with a poor human rights record has, however, prompted condemnation from numerous players, including Rory McIlroy and Woods.
Woods declared he disapproved of the players that had left before the July Open at St. Andrews, Scotland.
The 15-time major champion added, “I think what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to reach this position.”
Aside the athletes, Tiger Woods slammed Greg Norman
Some of these players might never get the opportunity to compete in major competitions, according to Woods. And even though it’s just a hunch, it’s up to all the main championship organizations to decide. He continued, “There is a potential that some players will never, ever have an opportunity to play in a major tournament, never get a chance to experience this right here, walking down the fairways at Augusta National.”
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Woods even went so far as to attack Norman for his participation in the splinter tour. “Greg has done some things that I don’t think are ideal for our game, and we’re returning to arguably the most historic and traditional place in our sport,” said the commentator.
Henrik Stenson triumphed on Sunday at Bedminster, New Jersey, in the third competition of LIV Golf’s first season.
The 46-year-old Swede scored 11-under par at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster to earn $4 million, nearly two weeks after losing his Ryder Cup leadership for signing up for the series.
Along with him, former US President Donald Trump, who attended the three-day competition and owns the course, claimed the trophy.
