Tiger Woods says Greg Norman and LIV Golf players have 'turned their back' on the sport
- Tiger Woods took some shots at Greg Norman and the Saudi-backed LIV Golf league on Tuesday.
- "They've turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position," Woods told reporters.
Tiger Woods made his feelings on LIV Golf clear while speaking with reporters ahead of the 150th Open Championship at the Old Course at St. Andrews.
"The players who have chosen to go to LIV and play there, I disagree with it," Woods told reporters in his pre-tournament press conference on Tuesday. "I think that what they've done is they've turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position."
Woods added that he agreed with the R&A's decision to disinvite Greg Norman to the weekend's festivities.
Norman, who won two Open Championships in his career, now serves as the CEO of the Saudi-backed upstart challenger to the PGA Tour.
"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 said.
"I know Greg tried to do this back in the early '90s. It didn't work then, and he's trying to make it work now," Woods added. "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 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."
It was the strongest statement the most important voice in golf has made since the emergence of LIV shook up the sport. Woods has played in just two tournaments so far this year — the Masters and the PGA Championship — both of which took place before LIV hosted its inaugural event in London.
While Norman won't be present at the Old Course this weekend, several players on the LIV Golf roster are scheduled to compete, including Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau, and Phil Mickelson.