Saudi International is a new tournament in the 2019 season of the European Tour.
The organizers invited Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Paul Casey and Thomas Bjorn to attend. But they were unsuccessful in convincing Tiger Woods.
The tournament takes place from January 31 to February 3, 2019 and it is unclear whether it coincides with Woods going on vacation or attending another activity.
The Telegraph does not rule out the possibility that the 42-year-old star refused because Saudi Arabia was recently involved in the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Saudi International is fully funded by the Saudi Arabian government. European Tour CEO Keith Pelley confirmed that the tournament will not be canceled because of political issues.
“Saudi International is already on the European Tour’s schedule,” Mr. Pelley said. “We will continue to promote the tournament as we are doing in other countries. We have heard the criticism.
It is everyone’s right to freedom of expression. The tournament will be held and monitored according to European Tour standards”.
After a break, Woods will return with a performance round with Phil Mickelson later this month. The confrontation between two American legends was broadcast live on television and had a prize for the winner of up to nearly 10 million US dollars.
Woods recently announced his participation in the Hero World Challenge, a tournament organized by the charity foundation that bears his name. After that, the owner of 14 major titles will take a break at the end of the year and it is unclear which tournaments he will participate in in the first months of 2019.
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Source: New York Post