Legend's shock Greg Norman revelation amid $3 billion golf saga

Hall of Fame golfer Jack Nicklaus claims he turned down in excess of $AUD140 million to be the face of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series, suggesting that Aussie great Greg Norman was second choice.

Norman - given a reported war chest of $3 billion to try and entice the world's best golfers - has been in the headlines constantly in 2022 due to his involvement with the controversial breakaway competition and his ties to Saudi Arabia.

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However, 18-time major winner Nicklaus claims he was first choice to head up the LIV Golf series, but twice turned down the lucrative advances of the Saudi backers.

"I was offered something in excess of $US100 million ($A144 million) by the Saudis, to do the job probably similar to the one that Greg is doing," Nicklaus said in a story with Fire Pit Collective.

"I turned it down. Once verbally, once in writing. I said, 'Guys, I have to stay with the PGA Tour. I helped start the PGA Tour.'"

Saudi Arabian organisers launched the new circuit and plan to hold the inaugural event at Centurion Club outside London from June 9-11.

In addition, five tournaments will be played in the United States and a team matchplay finale at Trump Doral in Miami in October.

The PGA Tour denied requests from players, including Phil Mickelson, who asked to participate in the London tournament.

Mickelson subsequently announced earlier this week that he was withdrawing from the US PGA Championship - meaning he won't be defending the historic title he won in 2021.

Players must request clearance to play in the second LIV event by Tuesday.

An unauthorised Mickelson biography, being released this week detailing his alleged gambling losses and comments about the Tour and other golfers, is drawing media attention.

Already, comments about Saudi Arabian human rights allegations caused a firestorm for Mickelson and he did not play in the Masters. He last played in an event in January and withdrew from the PGA Championship this week despite being the defending champion.

"My advice to Phil? My advice to Phil would be to be patient," Nicklaus said in the story published on Monday. "The world is a very forgiving place. But he's the one - he has to decide where he wants to play and what he wants to do."

Norman's involvement as CEO of LIV Golf Investments has been mired in controversy, with the Aussie's close ties to Saudi Arabia coming under scrutiny considering the country's appalling human rights record.

Greg Norman slammed over Saudi Arabia stance

One of the Saudi regime's most notable crimes is the 2018 killing of Washington Post journalist Khashoggi, a US resident who was kidnapped and dismembered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Norman tried to move on from the controversy last week by insisting that Saudi Arabia deserved the opportunity to atone for their sins - comments that were condemned around the world.

"Look, we've all made mistakes and you just want to learn by those mistakes and how you can correct them going forward," the 67-year-old Norman said on Wednesday at an event to promote his tournaments.

Norman noted "the good that the country is doing in changing its culture."

The 67-year-old's remarks sparked widespread backlash, with the fiancee of the late Washington Post columnist telling the UK's Telegraph newspaper that Norman's comments were "so hurtful."

"Would you say that if it was your loved one? How can we go forward when those who ordered the murder are still unpunished, and continue to try to buy back their legitimacy?" Cengiz said.

"We should not fall for their wealth and lies, and lose our morals and common humanity. We should all be insisting on the truth and justice; only then can we look forward with hope and dignity."

Khashoggi, who had written critically about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, had gone into the consulate to collect documents required for him to marry his Turkish fiancee, Hatice Cengiz, and never came out.

Turkish officials said Khashoggi was killed and dismembered with a bone saw inside the consulate by a team of Saudi agents.

The group included individuals who worked for the Crown Prince's office. His remains have not been found.

Western intelligence agencies and the US Congress said an operation of such magnitude could not have happened without the knowledge of the crown prince.

"I haven't had a personal conversation with (Crown Prince) MBS, I've never met the guy, but at the same time I do read that the Saudi government has made their statements and comments about it and they want to move forward," Norman had said.

with agencies

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