Jack Nicklaus says he turned down $100m to be face of Saudi-backed golf tour

• American remains loyal to PGA Tour, which he helped found
• Nicklaus offers advice to under-fire Phil Mickelson

Greg Norman was not the first choice to be the face of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series, whose Saudi Arabian organizers pursued and preferred Jack Nicklaus, according to the 73-time PGA Tour winner.

I was offered something in excess of $100m 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.'"