As three-time winner prepares for British Open, Tiger says rebel tour is not in the best interest of golf
ST. ANDREWS: Tiger Woods seems friendlier by the tournament. More fun, more smiles and a greater willingness to speak on topics that may once have been put into a tray best described as 'Out of Bounds'.
No longer. He is no longer the 'diplomat' who keeps his counsel on controversial matters. On Tuesday, he came out more strongly than ever before on Greg Norman and the Liv Series Golf.
Ahead of his sixth appearance at the Old Course, St. Andrews, where he has won two of his three Claret Jugs, Woods minced no words.
Asked about the 'invite' to former Open champion Norman being withdrawn, Woods said, "The R&A obviously have their opinions and their rulings and their decision. Greg has done some things that I don't think is 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." Par for the course. Not too aggressive.
Another question on Norman / Liv and Woods said, "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."
Then he went the whole hog, when asked yet again about Liv. He was emphatic as he said, "I think that what they've done is they've turned their back on what has allowed them to get to this position."
"Some players have never got a chance to even experience it. They've gone right from the amateur ranks right into that organisation and never really got a chance to play out here and what it feels like to play a Tour schedule or to play in some big events. Who knows what's going to happen in the near future with world-ranking points, the criteria for entering major championships. "They may not ever get a chance to play in major championships. That is a possibility. Some players will never get a chance to experience this (the Open) right here; (or) walk down the fairways at Augusta National."
"What these players are doing (is) 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."
