Legendary golf champ Tiger Woods declined a as regards to $1 billion deal to play in a controversial contemporary tournament circuit bankrolled by Saudi Arabia, the CEO of the operation has told The Washington Post.
“Woods became down a deal that changed into as soon as mind-blowingly spacious; we’re talking about excessive nine digits,” LIV Golf Investments commissioner and CEO Greg Norman told the Post in a little bit of writing earlier this week.
Norman stated that both Woods and Jack Nicklaus, who he claimed changed into as soon as equipped some $100 million, rejected the presents because neither wished to jeopardize what the Post referred to as “generational legacies.”
Woods — who’s already concept to be one of the most world’s few athlete billionaires, in step with Forbes — couldn’t without extend be reached for commentary.
The LIV Golf tour endeavor has been slammed as a “sportswashing” operation aimed at boosting the recognition of Saudi Arabia amid human rights violations and the 2018 slaying and dismemberment of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi. American intelligence sure that Khashoggi’s killing changed into as soon as ordered by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Mickelson stated the Saudis are “horrifying motherfuckers to glean enthusiastic with” at some stage in an interview earlier this year with journalist Alan Shipnuck, his unauthorized biographer.
“We know they killed Khashoggi and have a gruesome fable on human rights. They construct folks over there for being gratified. Incandescent all of this, why would I even hold in mind it?” Mickelson requested. “Because right here’s a as soon as-in-a-lifetime replace.”
Mickelson took a golf damage this year in the wake of his comments, nonetheless he’s now in the inaugural tournament of the LIV Golf Invitational Sequence in London.
Mickelson changed into as soon as promoting the tournament at a press conference on Thursday when guards ejected Shipnuck, who changed into as soon as there to confront the golfer again.
But other journalists pressed Mickelson about his participation. “In the slay, you would possibly possibly per chance be viewed as a Saudi stooge,” one stated.
The PGA Tour on Thursday indefinitely suspended all 17 golfers in the LIV circuit from its tour, including Mickelson, who reportedly made the change for $200 million.
Sponsors have also dropped a pair of of the golfers who’ve joined the LIV circuit.
The Saudis concept to assist concept to be one of the most LIV tournaments at worn President Donald Trump’s path in Bedminster, Fresh Jersey.
