Tiger Woods diplomatically chastised fellow former major champion Greg Norman on Tuesday for being the face of Saudi-funded LIV Golf.
Speaking at Scotland's historic St. Andrews, host to this weekend’s 150th Open Championship, Woods defended the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews' decision not to invite former champion Norman to attend festivities surrounding the milestone anniversary.
The PGA Tour has slammed LIV Golf and the players who have left the world’s preeminent tour after being offered huge money. Those players include former major winners Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, and Bryson DeChambeau.
"The R&A obviously have their opinions and their rulings and their decision," Woods said during his Tuesday press conference. "Greg has done some things that I don't think are in the best interest of our game, and we're coming back to probably the most historic and traditional place in our sport. I believe it's the right thing."
The Department of Justice has begun investigating whether the PGA Tour engaged in anti-competitive practices in its battle with the LIV Golf circuit, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
Tiger criticized Norman for saying LIV was created to benefit players and grow the game of golf.
"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 told reporters. "I know Greg tried to do this [a rival tour] 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. What the European Tour and what the PGA Tour stands for and what they've done, and also all the professional — all the governing bodies of the game of golf and all the major championships, how they run it. I think they see it differently than what Greg sees it."
Woods was asked about the players who had left the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf.
"I disagree with it," Woods said. "I think what they’ve done is they've turned their backs on what has allowed them to get to this position.
"What these players are doing for guaranteed money, what is the incentive to practice? 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."
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