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Tiger Woodsrejected an offer “in the neighborhood” of $700 to $800 million to join LIV Golf, the group’s CEOGreg Normanclaims.
During an appearance onFox News with Tucker Carlson, Norman said that the Saudi-backed league had made the seven-figure offer to the 46-year-old Woods, who turned it down.
Norman told Carlson the offer was “out there” even before the former world-number-one took on the role. “That number was out there before I became CEO.”
“Look, Tiger is a needle mover, right? So, of course you’re got to look at the best of the best,” said Norman. “They had originally approached Tiger before I became CEO. That number is somewhere in that neighborhood.”
Woods rejected the tour and went on to criticize other golfers who accepted offers from the controversial league.
“I know Greg tried to do this back in the early ’90s,” Woods said of the 67-year-old’s past attempts to separate from the PGA Tour, according to theNew York Times. “It didn’t work then, and he’s trying to make it work now. I still don’t see how that’s in the best interests of the game.”
Woods added, “Greg has done some things that I don’t think is in the best interest of our game, and we’re coming back to probably the most historic and traditional place in our sport.”
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During a press conference before the start of the 2022 Open Championship, Woods said he “disagreed” with the golfers who have accepted suspensions from the PGA Tour to play with theLIV Golf Invitational Series.
Tiger Woods.Gregory Shamus/Getty
“I think that what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position,” Woods said, according toESPN.
In June, the PGA Toursuspended 17 golferswho appeared in LIV Golf’s first event in England. They included golfing legendPhil Mickelson, winner of 45 PGA Tour events, andDustin Johnson, a former Masters winner who resigned from the tour ahead of the suspension.
ESPNpreviously reported that LIV Golf has ties to the Public Investment Fund, a sovereign wealth fund that makes investments on behalf of Saudi Arabia. The country has long been condemned forhuman rights abusesand LIV Golf has been criticized for working with Saudi Arabia.
Over the weekend, former presidentDonald Trumphosted a LIV Golf tournament at his course in Bedminster, New Jersey,amid protests from families of peoplewho died in theSept. 11, 2001, attacks.
source: people.com
