Greg Norman, CEO of the LIV Golf Tour, says Tiger Woods turned down an offer of $700-800 million to join the Saudi-backed LIV Golf series, CNN reports.
Norman was questioned by Tucker Carlson on Fox News on Monday if it was true that Tiger Woods was given $700-800 million to join the LIV Golf series.
Norman said, “That statistic was out there before I became CEO.” The number has been floating around for a while now, yeah. Tiger is a needle mover, isn’t he? As a result, it’s only natural that you’d start with the finest of the greatest. It’s possible that the number is close to the one they used when they first approached Tiger before I became CEO.
On the left is Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund; on the right is Majed Al-Sorour, the CEO of Golf Saudi Arabia (middle).
Al-Rumayyan, governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and Majed Al-Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi Arabia, pose for a photo with Norman (left) (middle).
Norman had previously said that Woods was offered a large sum of money to participate, but he turned it down, according to the Washington Post. Woods’ plan is “mind-blowingly massive; we’re talking about high nine-digit figures,” according to Norman.
There are several prominent names in the golfing industry who have decided to abandon the PGA and DP World Tours in order to participate in the controversial tour.
Several major champions, including Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson, as well as Brooks Koepka and Sergio Garcia, as well as Louis Oosthuizen and Graeme McDowell, as well as Charl Schwartzel and Martin Kaymer, have jumped ship to join a breakaway group.
The Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, chairs the Public Investment Fund (PIF), which has contributed $250 million in prize money to the LIV Golf Series.
Many players, including Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, have criticized the decision to accept money from a country with a poor human rights record.
Woods expressed his displeasure with the players who had withdrawn from the Open Championship in St. Andrews, Scotland, before to the tournament’s start in July.
According to the 15-time major champion, they’ve “turned their backs” on what got them to this point.
There is a chance that some of these players will never play in a major championship.” Certainly, it’s possible. Until then, we don’t know for sure. Decision-making authority rests with all of the major championship bodies. However, it is possible that some players will never have the opportunity to compete in a major event, never have the opportunity to walk the fairways of Augusta National and experience this firsthand.
Tiger Woods gets ready to hit a shot during the second round of the 150th Open at St. Andrews.
“How can these athletes practice when they have money on the line?” What motivates you to put your hands in the dirt and work hard for your money? You’re just playing a few tournaments and playing 54 holes for a large sum of money. They’re playing loud music and creating a variety of different atmospheres.”
If the LIV organization doesn’t earn world-ranking points and the major championships modify their criteria to enter the tournaments, I just don’t see how that move is helpful in the long run for a lot of these players.”
When I think about how fortunate we are, I can’t help but feel terrible for some of these young people who may never get the opportunity to experience what we have had the privilege of experiencing.
For his role in the breakaway tour, Woods even went so far as to attack Norman himself! I don’t think Greg has done things that are in the greatest interest of our game, and we’re going back to arguably the most historic and traditional place in our sport.”
Henrik Stenson triumphed at Bedminster, New Jersey, on Sunday to win the third event of LIV Golf’s first season.
The 46-year-old Swede shot 11-under par at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster to win $4 million less than two weeks after he was stripped of his Ryder Cup leadership for joining the series.
Former US President Donald Trump, who was on hand for the entire three days of the competition and owns the course, helped him receive the trophy.