Report: Jack Nicklaus Turned Down $100 Million to Represent LIV Golf

More controversy relating to the breakaway golf tour

Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus poses for a portrait at the Nicklaus Family Office on March 28, 2022 in North Palm Beach, Florida.
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There’s been a lot written over the last few months about the forthcoming LIV Golf International Series, which has prompted some high-profile golfers to plan their exit from the PGA Tour. The involvement of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund in the tournament has also led to plenty of controversy — and the fact that Greg Norman is the tour’s CEO isn’t enough to counterbalance the issues some have taken with the Saudi investment in the project.

Now, new details about the forthcoming tour have come to light. Specifically, that golf legend Jack Nicklaus was — according to statements he made for a feature at the Fire Pit Collective — initially offered $100 million for a prominent role in the tour.

“I was offered something in excess of $100 million by the Saudis, to do the job probably similar to the one that Greg [Norman] is doing. I turned it down,” he recalled. “Once verbally, once in writing. I said, ‘Guys, I have to stay with the PGA Tour. I helped start the PGA Tour.’”

As The Guardian noted in their coverage of Nicklaus’s comments, this also suggests that Norman wasn’t the first choice to be the face of the new tour. The LIV Tour is set to begin in London this June.

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