Tiger Woods turned down an offer Greg Norman says was between $700 million and $800 million to participate in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Series.
During an appearance on Fox News with Tucker Carlson that aired Monday night, Norman confirmed what he told the Washington Post in a story two months ago. Norman told the Post in June that the offer was “mind-bogglingly huge; we’re talking high nine digits.”
Woods has opposed LIV Golf since late last year, making his strongest comments at the British Open when he said players who took money funded by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund they had “turned their backs” on the PGA Tour that made them famous.
When an offer was made to Woods was unclear.
“That number was out there before I became CEO. So that number has been there, yes,” Norman said in the Fox News interview, which took place Sunday at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey , where the third LIV Golf Invitational was held.
“And, look, Tiger is a needle mover, and of course you have to look at the best of the best,” Norman said. “So they had originally approached Tiger before I became CEO. So yeah, that number was somewhere in that neighborhood.”
Various reports from the UK have said that Phil Mickelson received a $200 million signing bonus, while Dustin Johnson received $150 million. The 48-person fields, which play 54 holes without a cut, offer $25 million in prize money in each event. Norman announced a 14-tournament schedule for next year.
LIV Golf currently has just one player, Johnson at No. 18, out of the top 20 in the world.
The source of the funding has led to harsh criticism of the series and the players who signed up as it is seen as an attempt to distract from its human rights record and links to the 9/11 terrorist attacks .
When asked why his rival tour has caused such a stir among American golf fans, Norman answered bluntly: “I don’t know.”
“I don’t really care,” Norman said. “I really love the game and I want to grow the game of golf and we at LIV see this opportunity not just for men but for women.”
The LIV Golf Invitational is off for a month during the FedEx Cup playoffs on the PGA Tour, returning on Labor Day weekend an hour west of Boston, and plays two weeks later in suburban Chicago.