Tiger Woods sensationally turned down an offer of approximately £600million to turn his back on the PGA Tour and join the controversial LIV Golf Series, claims the tournament CEO Greg Norman.
The lucrative series, funded by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, has divided golf with the PGA and DP World Tours fractured after the new series poached some of the sports biggest names. Several of the world’s most prominent players have decided to switch to LIV Golf, including the likes of Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, and Dustin Johnson.
Disgraced former Team Europe Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson secured a two-stroke victory at the third LIV Golf event - which took place in Bedminster, New Jersey - to earn a £3.37m payout, more than the £2.08m awarded to Australian Cameron Smith for securing the coveted Open title last month. His win comes after the Swede was publicly stripped of his captaincy following his switch to LIV Golf, and Norman has now revealed the enormous offer turned down by Woods.
Norman, a two-time major champion, appeared on Fox News' Tucker Carlson Show Monday night and was asked if the heavily rumoured $700-800million (£573m-£655m) offer to Woods being pegged was correct. The Australian confirmed the figure was 'somewhere in that neighbourhood'.
“That number was out there before I became CEO,” Norman admitted. “That number has been out there, yes. Tiger is a needle mover. So course you got to look at the best of the best. [LIV Golf] originally approached Tiger before I became CEO so yes, that number is somewhere in that neighbourhood.”
Woods is a golf icon and one of the most revered sportspeople in the world. The 15-time major champion drew enormous crowds as he sensationally recovered from his horrific car crash in February 2021 to contest the Masters in April amid much fanfare.
Securing the 46-year-old would certainly be LIV Golf’s greatest coup, but Woods remained resolute and he is actually one of the most outspoken players against the Saudi-backed tour. Ahead of the 150th Open Championship in July, Woods savaged the players who had made the switch for ‘turning their back’ on the sport.
“I disagree with those who have gone to LIV, I think they have turned their back on what allowed them to get to this position,” Woods said. “Some players have never had a chance to even experience playing on one of the tours.
“They have gone right from the amateur ranks to that organisation and never really had a chance to feel what it is like to play a schedule or play in big events. Some of these players may never even get a chance to play in major championships. That is a possibility. They will never get a chance to experience this right here. Walk down the fairways at Augusta National.
“I don't understand it. What these players are doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice? What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt?
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“You are just getting paid a lot of money up front and playing a few events and playing 54 holes. They are playing blaring music. I can understand 54 holes for the Senior Tour. The guys are older and a little more banged up. When you are young, 72-hole tests are part of it. We used to have 36-hole play-offs for majors.
“I just don't see how this is positive in the long term. It would be sad to see some of these young kids never get a chance to walk these hallowed grounds and play in these majors.”
Woods even directly addressed Norman, pointing out the warped view of gold held by the Australian. He added: “I know what the PGA Tour stands for, what it has given us: the ability to chase after our careers, the trophies we play for and to earn what we get and the history that has been part of this game.
“I know Greg tried to do what he is doing now back in the early Nineties. It didn't work then and he is trying to make it work now. I still don't see how that is in the game's best interests. All the governing bodies, the PGA Tour, the European Tour, all the majors — we all see it differently to Greg.”
