Jack Nicklaus has revealed he twice turned down offers to become the face of the breakaway Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series.
Nicklaus is a bona fide golf legend, having won a total of 18 majors during his storied career - more than any other man. However, the 82-year-old rejected approaches from LIV worth over £80m ($100m) to front the venture, with Greg Norman ultimately appointed CEO.
Speaking to Fire Pit Collective, Nicklaus revealed: "I was offered something in excess of $100 million by the Saudis, to do the job probably similar to the one that Greg is doing. I turned it down.
"Once verbally, once in writing. I said, 'Guys, I have to stay with the PGA Tour. I helped start the PGA Tour.'"
Nicklaus also offered some advice to Phil Mickelson, who is one of the players that has requested a release from the PGA Tour in order to take part in the LIV Golf Series. Mickelson courted controversy back in February when he gave his thoughts on the breakaway league.
In a biography titled 'Phil: The Rip-Roaring (and Unauthorized!) Biography of Golf’s Most Colorful Superstar', Mickelson described the Saudis as "scary motherf*****s to get involved with" before outlining why he was considering joining their venture.
"We know they killed [Washington Post reporter Jamal] Khashoggi and have a horrible record on human rights," he said. "They execute people over there for being gay.
"Knowing all of this, why would I even consider it? Because this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to reshape how the PGA Tour operates. They've been able to get by with manipulative, coercive, strong-arm tactics because we, the players, had no recourse."
Mickelson later apologised for his "reckless" comments and took a break from the sport, before requesting a release from the PGA Tour to play in LIV's first event in June. However, the PGA Tour refused to grant players permission to play in the event.
Mickelson has not played since making his initial comments about the Saudis and Nicklaus feels the 51-year-old needs to remain "patient". He said: "My advice to Phil? My advice to Phil would be to be patient. The world is a very forgiving place. But he's the one who has to decide where he wants to play and what he wants to do."
