Norman: Woods turned down LIV
Tiger Woods turned down an offer that Greg Norman says was “somewhere in that neighborhood” of $700 million to $800 million to take part 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 the offer was “mindblowingly enormous; we're talking about high nine digits.”
Woods has been opposed to LIV Golf since late last year, and he delivered his strongest comments at the British Open when he said players who took the money funded by the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund had “turned their back” on the PGA Tour that made them famous.
When an offer was made to Woods was not clear.
“That number was out there before I became CEO. So that number has been out 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, yes, that number was somewhere in that neighborhood.”
Various reports out of the United Kingdom have said Phil Mickelson received a $200 million signing bonus, while Dustin Johnson received $150 million. The 48-man fields, which play 54 holes with no cut, offer $25 million in prize money at each event.
LIV Golf currently has only one player — Johnson at No. 18 — from the top 20 in the world.
NFL
F1 STAR HAMILTON JOINS BRONCOS' OWNERSHIP GROUP >> Rob Walton is adding seven-time Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton of Britain to the Denver Broncos' new ownership group.
Hamilton, 37, who drives for the Mercedes team and whose 103 career victories are the most in F1 history, is the third limited partner brought aboard by the Walton-Penner ownership group headed by Walmart heir Rob Walton, his daughter, Carrie Walton Penner, and her husband, Greg Penner.
“Excited to join an incredible group of owners and become a part of the Broncos story!!” Hamilton tweeted. “Honored to work with a world class team and serve as an example of the value of more diverse leadership across all sports.”
Commissioner Roger Goodell has made minority ownership a point of emphasis in the league. Hamilton is Black, as are the new ownership group's two other limited partners, Starbucks board chair Mellody Hobson and former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Walton-Penner group won the bidding for the Broncos with a $4.65 billion offer. the highest price paid for any sports franchise in the world. BRONCOS' PATRICK TEARS ACL >> The Denver Broncos have lost a top receiver to a torn ACL for a third consecutive season.
Wide receiver Tim Patrick was carted off after catching a pass from Russell Wilson at the Denver Broncos' training camp practice Tuesday, and a person with knowledge of the diagnosis told The Associated Press that Patrick sustained a season-ending torn ACL.
Patrick's injury continues a run of misfortune for Denver's wide receivers. Last year, KJ Hamler blew out a knee in Week 3 and the year before that Courtland Sutton was lost for the season with a torn ACL in Week 2.
FALCONS' TAYLOR OUT FOR SEASON >> The Atlanta Falcons have lost defensive tackle Vincent Taylor to a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon.
Coach Arthur Smith announced Taylor's injury following Tuesday's practice.
Following the retirement of Eddie Goldman before training camp, Taylor's injury leaves the Falcons without two veterans who had been projected to play prominent roles on the defensive line.
STEELERS SIGN BOSWELL TO FIVEYEAR DEAL >> The Pittsburgh Steelers are holding onto one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history.
The team re-signed veteran Chris Boswell to a five-year deal on Tuesday that carries a total value of just over $23 million. Boswell was entering the final season of a four-year extension he signed before the 2018 season.
The 31-year-old has made more than 88% (182 of 206) of his fieldgoal attempts since making the team through an open tryout during the 2015 season.
Soccer
EA SPORTS TO SPONSOR SPANISH LEAGUE >> Redwood City-based company EA Sports will become the title sponsor of the Spanish league beginning in 2023-24.
The league said the videogaming company will replace Spain-based bank Santander, which is entering its final season as the main sponsor of the second-richest European domestic league.
The Spanish sports daily Marca said EA Sports will pay 30 million euros ($30.7 million) a season to the Spanish league in the agreement.