Tiger WoodsLIV Golf CEO Greg Norman confirmed Monday night that he declined an offer between $700m and $800m to join the LIV Golf Inviteal Series.
Norman spoke on Tucker Carlson Tonight to say that LIV Golf approached Woods (a 15-time major champion), before he was named the new commissioner and CEO of the circuit.
That number existed before I became CEO, Norman stated to Tucker Carlson on Fox News. The interview took place at this weekends LIV Golf Inviteal Series event at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster. Look Tiger is a needle-mover, right? You have to look at the best. They approached Tiger originally before I became CEO. Its somewhere in that area.
Woods, 46, is one of the most vocal supporters of the PGA Tour in its ongoing battle against LIV Golf for the best players around the world. At last months Open Championship in St. Andrews, Woods said he supported the R&As 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 did some things that I do not believe are in the best interest for our game. Were going back to the most historic, traditional place in our sport. Its the right thing, I believe.
Woods was also critical towards players who have left PGA Tour for LIV Golf. This is being financed in part by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund. LIV Golf has attracted many players, including former major champions. Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil MickelsonAnd Brooks KoepkaTo the new tour, with guaranteed contracts valued between $100 million- $200 million and prize money at every event.
Woods stated, I disagree with it. I believe that. What they did was they turned their backs What has enabled them to reach this position?
Norman said that the PGA Tour was a monopoly and that it has caused LIV Golf to change its plans for its launch. LIV Golf announced last week that it will expand its series to 14 tournaments by 2023 with 48 players competing in 12 established franchises for $405 millions in purses.
Two manager players confirmed to ESPN last month that they were the ones who made the announcement. The U.S. Department of Justice launched an investigationInquiries into the PGA Tour’s handling of its members and whether it engaged in anticompetitive behaviour during its ongoing battle to LIV Golf.
Norman said, It is a monopoly. They want us to be shut down in every way possible, so theyll use any leverage point they can to do that, but theyre not. They wont shut us down, because the product speaks for itself.
Norman stated that he was also surprised by the fact that long-standing corporate sponsors had dropped players who left for LIV Golf.
Norman said, That blows me away. Sponsors who spend billions of dollar in Saudi Arabia, by the side, are sponsors. The PGA Tour has around 27 sponsors, I believe, who do 40-plus trillion dollars of business annually in Saudi Arabia. Why doesn’t the PGA Tour contact the CEO of these organizations? [and say] Im sorry, we cant do business together because youre doing it with Saudi Arabia. Why are they picking apart professional golfers?
Norman mentioned that Aramco, the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, is one of the largest sponsors of womens golf during the interview with Carlson.
Norman stated that not one word has ever been said about them. Why is it so hard on the guys? Why are we the ogres? What have we done wrong?