Woods snubbed a $700-$800m offer to join Saudi-backed LIV golf
LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman confirmed that the controversial Saudi-backed breakaway attempted to lure away Tiger Woods with an obscene $700-800million deal as he slammed the PGA Tour for being hypocritical.
The series, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, has caused a major civil war in the sport with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour after it poached some of the sport’s stars with lucrative deals – and even tried to snatch up the biggest name in golf, Woods.
LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman appeared on the Tucker Carlson show Monday night
Carlson (centre) with former President Donald Trump (right) at the LIV Golf event last week
Norman confirmed 2019 Masters champion Tiger Woods was offered $700-800million to join
Norman, a two-time major champion, appeared on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Show Monday night and hit back at the rival tour as he accused the PGA Tour of continuing to take sponsorship money from Saudi backers.
When Carlson asked if the $700-800million offer to Woods he had seen floated around was correct, Norman confirmed the figure was ‘somewhere in that neighborhood’.
‘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. The originally approached tiger before I became CEO so yes, that number is somewhere in that neighborhood.’
The 15-time major champion and drew enormous crowds when he made his spectacular return at the Masters in April following his horror car crash in February 2021 and securing him would have the biggest blockbuster attraction for LIV Golf.
The 15-time major champion savaged the Saudi tour rebels for ‘turning their back’ on PGA Tour
But despite the mega-money offer, LIV Golf were unsuccessful in their coup.
In fact, the golfing great has been one of the most outspoken stars against the organization.
Ahead of the 150th British Open Championship in July, Woods savaged the Saudi rebels 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,’ he began. ‘Some players have never had a chance to even experience playing on one of the tours.
The Australian hands Henrik Stenson the trophy for winning the third LIV Golf Series event
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‘They have gone right from the amateur ranks to that organization and never really had a chance to feel what it is like to play a schedule or play in big events.
‘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.’