The Saudi-backed LIV Golf venture hasn't just offered big money to PGA Tour stars this year as the sport's civil war continues to escalate.
It's been reported that the rebel tour also made an audacious bid to get NBA legend Michael Jordan on board - literally - as they sought to wreak havoc on the game's status quo. And he wasn't the only non-golf pro targeted by CEO Greg Norman and co.
The Australian's aggressive pursuit has secured the signings of a string of big names, most notably The Open champion Cameron Smith. The 2023 Ryder Cup has also been thrown into chaos after European captain Henrik Stenson was sacked for his own defection.
And now, according to a New York Times report , the controversial project: “considered assembling an all-star board of business, sports, legal and political titans.” Named in the leaked documents were Jordan, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and business executives Ginni Rometty, Randall Stephenson and Mark Parker.
But whether Jordan, who famously won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls, knew anything about being earmarked appears in doubt, with fellow target Stephenson denying any knowledge of an offer. “I didn’t know I was on the list, and I have never been approached,” he told the Times .
A current board member for the PGA Tour, Stephenson also insisted he had no interest in jumping ship: "It would be a quick conversation," he added, implying he'd instantly wave away any official advances.
As for Jordan, 59, his love of golf is well-known. Up until last last year he was playing off a 1.3 handicap, and is famed for placing large sums of money on games with his counterparts.
The leaked documents also unveiled that Tiger Woods was initially listed as "essential" to the growth of LIV Golf, along with Phil Mickleson and Rory McIlroy. However, the 15-time major winner turned down an offer reportedly in excess of £600 million.
Indeed, Woods has become one of the most vociferous detractors of the rebel concept, and this summer led talks with PGA Tour players in a bid to rally back against LIV. Him and McIlroy have since designed the TGL project, in a bid to attract a new audience to PGA tournaments.
