LIV Golf Series: Approximately $700-800 million (£572-654 million) was offered to Tiger Woods to play in the Saudi-sponsored LIV Golf Invitational Series, according to Greg Norman, the chief executive of the breakaway circuit.
The offer, according to Norman, was made before the Australian was named the show’s executive producer. The contentious series is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
The conversation, which took place last weekend at the LIV Golf competition in Bedminster, New Jersey, aired on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” on Monday night.
“That number was out there before I became CEO,” Norman said of the dollar figure presented to Woods. “Look, Tiger is a needle-mover, right? So, of course, you’ve got to look at the best of the best. They had originally approached Tiger Woods before I became CEO. That number is somewhere in that neighbourhood.”
Woods has continued to support the PGA Tour despite the new circuit.
Woods declared last month while speaking at the Open Championship in Scotland, “I disagree with the players who made the decision to travel to LIV and play there. They have, in my opinion, abandoned the factors that have contributed to their current situation.
“Simply put, you’re playing in a few events and playing 54 holes while receiving sizable advance payment. They have all these varied atmospheres while playing loud music.
“I just don’t see how that move is positive in the long term for a lot of these players, especially if the LIV organisation doesn’t get world-ranking points and the major championships change their criteria for entering the events.”
“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,” Woods said. “I believe it’s the right thing [to exclude him].”
