Tiger Woods has slammed money-grabbing LIV defectors for turning their back on what made them.
And the golfing superstar has warned the Saudi coin collectors they may have taken a Major gamble by joining the Greg Norman-fronted circus. Woods hammered the likes of Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson for their decision to desert the PGA Tour.
The 15-times major champion believes the LIV rebels are wrong to stick two fingers up at the organisation that has already provided them with great opportunity and wealth. Woods said: “I disagree with it. I think that what they’ve done is turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position. I know what the PGA Tour stands for, what we have done and what the Tour has given us.
“The ability to chase after our careers, to earn what we get, the trophies we have been able to play for and the history that has been a part of this game. I know Greg tried to do this back in the early 1990s. 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. What these players are doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practise?
“What is the incentive to go out there and earn it in the dirt? 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 can understand 54 holes is almost like a mandate when you get to the Senior Tour as the guys are a little bit older and a little more banged up.
“But when you’re at this young age, and some of these kids really are kids who have gone from amateur golf into that organisation, 72-hole tests are part of it. We used to have 36-hole play-offs for major championships.
“I just don’t see how that move is positive in the long term for a lot of these players. Especially if the LIV organisation doesn’t get world-ranking points and the major championships change their criteria for entering the events.”
Woods, who believes the R&A made the correct decision not to invite Norman to St Andrews this week, has warned that a lack of LIV recognition in terms of world ranking points means the Saudi splitters are putting their Major futures at risk. He continued: “Some of these players may not ever get a chance to play in major championships.
"That is a possibility. We don’t know that for sure yet. But 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 ( St Andrews ), walk down the fairways at Augusta. I just don’t understand it.”
Woods says his own experiences whilst building his legendary career make him cherish traditions. He added: “The history of the game is certainly something that I’ve taken to heart.
“I think it’s a very important part of understanding the development, where we’ve come from, especially for me, for a person who’s had to struggle at times for admittance into clubhouses or onto golf courses. So I understand it from a different historical side, too.
“You have to appreciate the people who have paved the way to allow us to play in these events, who created the energy behind it. There’s so many great champions.”
Woods is raising his son Charlie to respect the values. He continued: “He understands the history of the game because I make it important to understand where this game has come from and also his heritage, where he’s come from.
“He’s come from a very mixed background. So just understanding where you come from, how hard I had to work to get to where I was at. I had to earn it every step of the way. Nothing’s ever given to you. You have to go out there and earn it and I earned it through the dirt. I’m very proud of that.”
