Golf superstar Tiger Woods has heavily criticized the controversial LIV Golf Invitational Series. “Where’s the incentive to go out there and make your money in the dirt? You just get paid a lot of money up front and play a couple of tournaments and 54 holes,” the 46-year-old Californian said Tuesday at a press conference ahead of the 150th British Open in St. Andrews.
The new golf series attracts professionals with fewer and shorter tournaments and very high prize money. At the same time, she is criticized for the millions invested in Saudi Arabia. The background is that the country, which has been criticized for human rights violations, is trying to improve its reputation with lucrative sporting events.
PGA Tour and DP World Tour had sanctioned participants in the first tournaments of the new series with exclusions, tournament bans and fines. Germany’s top golfer Martin Kaymer also joined the LIV series.
Woods is particularly annoyed by the trappings of the new series and the short duration of the tournament. “They play booming music and have a completely different atmosphere.” 54 holes might be something for the seniors’ tour. “But when you’re at that young age — they’re really kids who came into this organization from amateur golf — 72-hole testing is part of it,” said Woods.
“The players will never have the chance to take part in a major championship. It’s just incomprehensible to me,” said Woods, who will also be competing with LIV professionals from Thursday at the fourth and final major tournament of the year on the world’s oldest golf course. For the 15-time major winner, the traditional event on the Old Course on Scotland’s east coast will only be the third PGA tournament since his serious car accident in February 2021.
