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Tiger Woods turned down a proposal between $700 million and $800 million to hitch the LIV Golf Invitational Collection, LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman confirmed in an interview that aired Monday night time.
Norman, showing on an episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight, mentioned LIV Golf approached Woods, a 15-time main champion, earlier than he was named the brand new circuit’s CEO and commissioner.
“That quantity was on the market earlier than I grew to become CEO,” Norman advised Fox Information host Tucker Carlson throughout an interview that passed off at this previous weekend’s LIV Golf Invitational Collection occasion at Trump Nationwide Golf Membership Bedminster in New Jersey. “Look, Tiger is a needle mover, proper? So, after all you are acquired to take a look at the very best of the very best. They’d initially approached Tiger earlier than I grew to become CEO. That quantity is someplace in that neighborhood.”
Woods, 46, has been among the many most outspoken supporters of the PGA Tour throughout its ongoing battle with LIV Golf for the very best gamers on the planet. Eventually month’s Open Championship in St. Andrews, Woods mentioned he supported the R&A’s resolution to not invite Norman, a two-time winner of the occasion, to the a hundred and fiftieth celebration of The Open.
“The R&A clearly have their opinions and their rulings and their resolution,” Woods mentioned. “Greg has finished some issues that I do not suppose is in the very best curiosity of our recreation, and we’re coming again to most likely essentially the most historic and conventional place in our sport. I consider it is the suitable factor.”
Woods was additionally vital of gamers who’ve left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf, which is being financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund. LIV Golf has lured a number of gamers, together with previous main champions Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson and Brooks Koepka, to the brand new tour with assured contracts reportedly price between $100 million and $200 million, along with prize cash at every occasion.
“I disagree with it,” Woods mentioned. “I feel that what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this place.”
Through the interview with Carlson, Norman referred to as the PGA Tour a “monopoly” and mentioned it has created obstacles that brought on LIV Golf to change its plans for its launch. Final week, LIV Golf introduced that it’s increasing its collection to 14 tournaments in 2023, with 48 gamers competing on 12 established staff franchises for $405 million in purses.
Final month, two participant managers confirmed to ESPN that the U.S. Department of Justice has opened an investigation into the PGA Tour’s dealing with of its gamers and whether or not it has engaged in anticompetitive habits throughout its ongoing battle with LIV Golf.
“It is a monopoly,” Norman mentioned. “They only need to shut us down no matter approach they’ll, so that they’ll use no matter leverage level they’ll to close us down, and so they’re not. They don’t seem to be going to close us down as a result of the product speaks for itself.”
Norman mentioned he was additionally stunned that some longtime company sponsors had dropped gamers who defected to LIV Golf.
“That blows my thoughts,” Norman mentioned. “Sponsors, by the best way, who spend billions of {dollars} in Saudi Arabia. The PGA Tour has about 27 sponsors, I feel, who do 40-plus billion {dollars}’ price of enterprise on an annual foundation in Saudi Arabia. Why would not the PGA Tour name the CEO of these organizations [and say], ‘I am sorry we won’t do enterprise with you since you’re doing enterprise with Saudi Arabia.’ Why are they selecting on the skilled golfers?”
Through the interview with Carlson, Norman famous that one of many largest sponsors of ladies’s golf is Aramco, the Saudi Arabian Oil Firm.
“Not one phrase has been mentioned about them,” Norman mentioned. “Why is it on the blokes? Why are we the ogres? What have we finished incorrect?”
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