Greg Norman confirms Tiger Woods rejected a $700-$800MILLION supply to affix LIV golf to Tucker Carson

LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman confirmed that the controversial Saudi-backed breakaway tried to lure away Tiger Woods with an obscene $700-800million deal as he slammed the PGA Tour for being hypocritical. 

The sequence, which is backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, has brought about a significant civil battle within the sport with the PGA Tour and the DP World Tour after it poached a number of the sport’s stars with profitable offers – and even tried to grab up the most important title in golf, Woods. 

Norman, a two-time main champion, appeared on Fox Information‘ Tucker Carlson Present Monday night time and hit again on the rival tour as he accused the PGA Tour of continuous to take sponsorship cash from Saudi backers. 

When Carlson requested if the $700-800million supply to Woods he had seen floated round was appropriate, Norman confirmed the determine was ‘someplace in that neighborhood’. 

‘That quantity was on the market earlier than I grew to become CEO,’ Norman admitted. ‘That quantity has been on the market, sure. 

‘Tiger is a needle mover. So course you bought to take a look at the perfect of the perfect. The initially approached tiger earlier than I grew to become CEO so sure, that quantity is someplace in that neighborhood.’

The 15-time main champion and drew huge crowds when he made his spectacular return on the Masters in April following his horror automotive crash in February 2021 and securing him would have the most important blockbuster attraction for LIV Golf.

However regardless of the mega-money supply, LIV Golf have been unsuccessful of their coup. 

The truth is, {the golfing} nice has been one of the crucial outspoken stars towards the group. 

Forward of the one hundred and fiftieth British Open Championship in July, Woods savaged the Saudi rebels for ‘turning their again’ on the game. 

‘I disagree with those that have gone to LIV, I believe they’ve turned their again on what allowed them to get to this place,’ he started. ‘Some gamers have by no means had an opportunity to even expertise enjoying on one of many excursions.

‘They’ve gone proper from the newbie ranks to that group and by no means actually had an opportunity to really feel what it’s wish to play a schedule or play in large occasions.

‘A few of these gamers could by no means even get an opportunity to play in main championships. That could be a chance. They are going to by no means get an opportunity to expertise this proper right here. Stroll down the fairways at Augusta Nationwide.

‘I do not perceive it. What these gamers are doing for assured cash, what’s the incentive to apply? What’s the incentive to go on the market and earn it within the filth? 

‘You’re simply getting paid some huge cash up entrance and enjoying a number of occasions and enjoying 54 holes.

‘They’re enjoying blaring music. I can perceive 54 holes for the Senior Tour. The blokes are older and a little bit extra banged up. If you find yourself younger, 72-hole assessments are a part of it. We used to have 36-hole play-offs for majors.

‘I simply do not see how that is optimistic in the long run. It will be unhappy to see a few of these younger youngsters by no means get an opportunity to stroll these hallowed grounds and play in these majors.’

Woods even referred to as out Norman straight as he insisted everybody had a distinct outlook to the Australian. 

 ‘I do know what the PGA Tour stands for, what it has given us: the power to chase after our careers, the trophies we play for and to earn what we get and the historical past that has been a part of this recreation,’ he mentioned.

‘I do know Greg tried to do what he’s doing now again within the early Nineties. It did not work then and he’s making an attempt to make it work now. I nonetheless do not see how that’s within the recreation’s greatest pursuits.

‘All of the governing our bodies, the PGA Tour, the European Tour, all of the majors — all of us see it otherwise to Greg.’

The breakaway tour has confronted intense scrutiny and backlash for its ties to the Saudi Arabian authorities. 

Nevertheless, Norman hit again at critics of the Saudi-funded sequence claiming the PGA Tour aren’t any martyrs. 

The Australian appeared to model the PGA Tour as hypocritical as he questioned why solely LIV Golf was dealing with criticism for it is ties to the dominion. 

‘The PGA tour I believe has about 27 sponsors on the PGA tour by way of 40 plus billion {dollars} price of enterprise on an annual foundation in Saudi Arabia,’ he claimed.

‘Why does not the PGA tour name the CEOs of those sponsors — saying that we won’t do enterprise with you since you are doing enterprise with Saudi Arabia? 

‘Why are they taking over skilled golfers? Male skilled golfers. The LPGA Tour is sponsored by Aramco. The biggest sponsor of of ladies’s golf on the planet is Aramco. However not one phrase mentioned about them. 

‘Why are we the ogres? What have we executed improper? We’re impartial contractors, we’ve got a proper to play wherever on the planet.’ 

Aramco, the Saudi Arabian built-in power and chemical substances firm is in partnership with the Women European Tour. 

Like LIV Golf, Aramco has explored the workforce format with the Saudi-backed Aramco Crew Sequence that takes place throughout three continents. 

The PGA Tour hit again towards the mega-money problem from LIV Golf Monday because it introduced it has has upped the ante on the money prizes it would hand out.

PGA Tour officers introduced a schedule of 44 tournaments – together with the 4 golf majors – for its upcoming 2022-23 golf season. 

The entire prize cash handed out for the non-majors is about to be a file $428.6million, with an extra $61.5m given out at the Masters, the PGA Championship, the US Open, and the Open Championship.

In complete, excluding two Problem sequence occasions, the purses for subsequent season will fetch $490.1m in a season working from September 2022 to August 2023. It is a rise of $63.5m on 2022.

The announcement got here after LIV Golf revealed a 14-event schedule for 2023 final week with a large $405million up for grabs in prize cash. 

Norman instructed Carlson that the PGA Tour was making an attempt to ‘shield its monopoly’ within the sport however claimed that LIV Golf by no means supposed to threaten golf’s current excursions. 

He mentioned: ‘Our mannequin is 100 per cent constructed across the golf ecosystem from the bottom up. We aren’t making an attempt to destroy the PGA Tour or the European Tour [DP World Tour]. 

‘We’re there to work inside the ecosystem to indicate that it is a sufficiently big house. It is a multibillion-dollar business.’

Donald Trump hosted the third occasion of the LIV Golf invitational sequence final week at his Trump Nationwide Golf Membership Bedminster. 

Households of the victims of the 9/11 assaults have been left outraged by the previous president’s determination to host the Saudi-funded occasion. 

The 9/11 Justice Group protested the occasion Friday, the primary day of the match, whereas earlier within the week Brett Eagleson, President of the group instructed DailyMail.com that the transfer ‘dishonors America’. 

Nevertheless, when questioned concerning the forty fifth President’s involvement with the sequence, Norman hailed Trump as ‘incredible’ and claimed he ‘doesn’t care’ about the issue some Individuals have with the sequence. 

When requested why some US residents are upset with the sequence and its hyperlinks to Saudi Arabia, Norman responded: ‘I do not know. I actually do not care. 

‘I simply love the sport a lot and I need to develop the sport of golf and we see that chance not only for the boys however for the ladies. 

‘We see it for NCAA and youthful generations. We see it as a pathway to alternatives for the children to expertise the brand new on the market. LIV is the way forward for golf.’

‘I’ve identified Donald a very long time,’ he added. ‘I performed with golf — golf with him earlier than he was president. I’ve executed golf programs that he acquired. His ardour for the sport of golf is as passionate as he has been [as] a president the place stars & stripes flows by way of his blood.

‘He loves golf and he sees the business alternative and what golf can provide him. Trump Bedminster isn’t any totally different. The membership right here is full. It is a business entity. It is an operation the place he could make income out of it. 

‘So after we first began, clearly as a begin up, wanted venues. We have been in discussions with him and we negotiated a venue payment with him and he beloved it. 

‘He is been within the background however within the foreground. He is been incredible this week. He isn’t placing himself out in entrance of LIV. He has embraced it.

‘He walks to the primary tee, he’ll enable LIV to breathe which I believe it is incredible. I’ve been with him on daily basis. It is a possibility for us as a result of they’re nice venues. Gamers adore it. Nice alternative for us to showcase.’