Tiger Woods turned down offer in ‘neighborhood’ of $700-$800 million when approached to join LIV Golf, Greg Norman says
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman, in an interview that aired Monday night, confirmed that Tiger Woods turned down an offer between $700 million and $800 million when approached to join the Saudi-backed golf league.
Norman, appearing on an episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight, said LIV Golf approached Woods, a 15-time major champion, before he was named the new circuit’s CEO and commissioner.
“That number was out there before I became CEO,” Norman told Fox News host Tucker Carlson during an interview that took place at this past weekend’s LIV Golf Invitational Series event at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey. “Look, Tiger is a needle mover, right? So, of course you’re got to look at the best of the best. They had originally approached Tiger before I became CEO. That number is somewhere in that neighborhood.”
Woods, 46, has been among the most outspoken supporters of the PGA Tour during its ongoing battle with LIV Golf for the best players in the world. At last month’s Open Championship in St. Andrews, Woods said he supported the R&A’s decision not to invite Norman, a two-time winner of the event, to the 150th celebration of The Open.
“The R&A obviously have their opinions and their rulings and their decision,” Woods said. “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. I believe it’s the right thing.”
Woods was also critical of players who have left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, which is being financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund. LIV Golf has lured several players, including past major champions Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka, to the new tour with guaranteed contracts reportedly worth between $100 million and $200 million, in addition to prize money at each event.
“I disagree with it,” Woods said. “I think that what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position.”
Last month, two player managers confirmed to ESPN that the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the PGA Tour’s handling of its players and whether it has engaged in anticompetitive behavior during its ongoing battle with LIV Golf.
