ST. ANDREWS, Scotland — Since the first murmurs of the Greg Norman-led, Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour, Tiger Woods has been a staunch supporter of the PGA Tour in its battle with what it perceives as a serious threat to its fiefdom.
On Tuesday in advance of the 150th British Open at St. Andrews, the 46-year-old 15-time major championship winner dug the heels of his golf shoes in as deep as they’ve ever been during this affair in denouncing Norman and the players who’ve fled the PGA Tour for the cushy, guaranteed Saudi money.
Delivering his strongest statements in defense of the PGA Tour, Woods lashed out at LIV.
In doing so, Woods voiced his approval for the R&A disinviting Norman (a two-time British Open winner) from participating in its Celebration of Champions exhibition on Monday and the Tuesday night champions dinner.
“I believe it’s the right thing,’’ Woods said of Norman being blackballed from the Open this week. “Greg has done some things that I don’t think is in the best interest of our game, and we’re coming back to probably the most historic and traditional place in our sport.
Tiger Woods attends a press conference held ahead of The 150th British Open Getty Images
Greg Norman Getty Images“I know Greg tried to do this back in the early ’90s. It didn’t work then, and he’s trying to make it work now. I still don’t see how that’s in the best interests of the game. I know what the PGA Tour stands for and what we have done and what the Tour has given us — the ability to chase after our careers and to earn what we get and the trophies we have been able to play for and the history that has been a part of this game.’’
Woods went as far as to say that the players who’ve joined LIV Golf have alienated the tours that helped them create their careers and make millions of dollars.
“The players who have chosen to go to LIV and to play there, I disagree with it,’’ Woods said. “I think that what they’ve done is they’ve turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position. Some players have never got a chance to even experience it — they’ve gone right from the amateur ranks right into that organization and never really got a chance to play out here and what it feels like to play a Tour schedule or to play in some big events.
Greg Norman (right) poses with Branden Grace after winning the Portland Invitational LIV Golf tournament AP“And, who knows what’s going to happen in the near future with world-ranking points, the criteria for entering major championships? The governing bodies are going to have to figure that out. Some of these players may not ever get a chance to play in major championships. That is a possibility that some players will never, ever get a chance to play in a major championship, never get a chance to experience this right here, walk down the fairways at Augusta National. That, to me, I just don’t understand it.’’
Rory McIlroy, a close friend of Woods, said Tuesday he understands where Woods is coming from.
Tiger Woods during a practice round for the British Open Getty Images“The legacy that Tiger has built over 25 years, the platform for him to do it has basically been the PGA Tour, [and] I think he appreciates the platform that he was given at the very start,’’ McIlroy said. “He’s such a big guy on history and tradition. He’s chasing a record that Sam Snead has held for I don’t know how many years, [82] victories on the PGA Tour. Those traditions and the history of the game are very important to him. He doesn’t want to see that all go away. I think that’s a big part of the reason why his position is what it is.’’
Woods is fond of saying he’s learned the game and gotten to where he is today by “digging it out of the dirt’’ and “earning everything’’ he’s gotten. He took pointed shots at the guaranteed money the LIV players are getting as taking the lazy way out.
“What these players are doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice?’’ he said. “You’re just getting paid a lot of money up front and playing a few events and playing 54 holes. They’re playing blaring music and have all these atmospheres that are different.
“I just don’t see how that move is positive in the long term for a lot of these players, especially if the LIV organization doesn’t get world-ranking points and the major championships change their criteria for entering the events. It would be sad to see some of these young kids never get a chance to experience it and experience what we’ve got a chance to experience and walk these hallowed grounds and play in these championships.’’
