Tiger Woods says LIV golfers have 'turned their backs' on what made them

Muricas News  — 

Tiger Woods has outlined the complete extent of his opposition to the Saudi-backed LIV Invitational Golf sequence, and reaffirmed his dedication to the PGA Tour, in a press convention forward of Thursday’s a hundred and fiftieth Open.

“I disagree with it [the players’ decision to join LIV Golf],” the 15-time-major winner mentioned on Tuesday. “I believe that what they’ve completed is that they’ve turned their again on what has allowed them to get to this place.”

The controversial sequence has created divisions within the recreation. A number of gamers, together with main champions Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, have joined the LIV Golf sequence, accepting suspension from the PGA Tour as a consequence.

Fronted by former world No. 1 Greg Norman, the LIV Golf sequence is funded by Saudi Arabia’s Public Funding Fund (PIF) – a sovereign wealth fund chaired by Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.

A US intelligence report named Bin Salman as liable for approving the operation that led to the 2018 homicide of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Bin Salman has denied involvement in Khashoggi’s homicide.

The PIF has pledged to award $250 million in whole prize cash, however the supply of the cash for the profitable sequence has led to criticism geared toward organizers and gamers about selecting to play for cash from the nation, given its human rights report.

Human rights teams have criticized the nation for conducting mass executions and for its therapy of homosexual folks.

The Royal & Historical Golf Membership of St. Andrews, which hosts the Open this yr, declined to ask Norman, a two-time Open champion, to Monday’s Celebration of Champions occasion or Tuesday’s Champions’ Dinner.

In an interview with Australian Golf Digest, Norman known as the choice “very petty.”

“The R&A clearly have their opinions and their rulings and their determination,” Woods mentioned. “Greg has completed some issues that I don’t assume is in the perfect curiosity of our recreation, and we’re coming again to in all probability probably the most historic and conventional place in our sport. I imagine it’s the precise factor.”

Golfers taking part within the LIV Golf sequence have mentioned that it is a chance to interrupt the monopoly of, and reform, the PGA Tour.

The PGA Tour and the DP World Tour – previously the European Tour – have lengthy been the place gamers have plied their commerce throughout the golfing calendar, outdoors of the 4 majors.

Whereas the US and European based mostly Excursions have banned and fined anybody becoming a member of the LIV Collection, the majors have up to now allowed golfers who've certified to proceed to compete in golf’s most prestigious occasions.

Woods mentioned: “Who is aware of what’s going to occur within the close to future with world-ranking factors, the factors for getting into main championships?”

Woods, who might be enjoying the third occasion in his comeback from a career-threatening automotive crash that just about resulted within the American shedding his proper leg, added: “It will be unhappy to see a few of these younger youngsters by no means get an opportunity to expertise what we’ve bought an opportunity to expertise and stroll these hallowed grounds and play in these championships.”

Rory McIlroy, the 2014 Open Champion and one other critic of the LIV Golf sequence, noticed that Woods’ profession and legacy has been constructed on a platform provided by the PGA Tour.

“These traditions and the historical past of the sport are crucial to him,” McIlroy mentioned in his pre-tournament press convention. “And I believe he doesn’t need to see that each one go away. I believe that’s an enormous a part of the explanation why his place is what it's.”

Muricas News has reached out to LIV Golf for remark however has not instantly acquired a reply.