Golf legend Tiger Woods has turned down a ₹25 crore ($3.3 million) a day appearance fee offer to play in the European tour’s inaugural event in Saudi Arabia next year. No matter even if it were the highest ever appearance fee package for a professional golfer.
As per the records available, the ₹ 25 crore ($ 3.3 million) per-day pay package till date is the largest known appearance fee for any golfer. It is unclear if the decision relates to scheduling issues or the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in the country’s consulate in Istanbul, which caused an international outcry.
It is not known if Woods is skipping the event in protest but the 14-time major winner was approached to participate over the summer and has since notified the relevant parties that he does not plan to play in Saudi Arabia, the British daily Daily Telegraph, has reported.
Though PGA tour stars Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed and Paul Casey are all reportedly signed up to play in the event in Saudi Arabia.
Since the killing of Khashoggi, a handful of major companies and individuals have pulled out of an investment conference known as ‘Davos in the Desert’ – an event hosted in Saudi Arabia by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who had been criticized heavily by Khashoggi before his alleged murder.
Like Woods, last week tennis superstar Roger Federer, revealed that he turned down a $1 million offer to play in an exhibition in Saudi Arabia in December, while wrestling star
John Cena refused to attend a WWE event in the country earlier this month.
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