Flashback: "Money was not the big motive for Tiger."

In May of 2007 John Garrity filed a piece about golf in Dubai and specifically, the announcement of Tiger's project. In light of the revealed design fees, the quote is of interest:

The golf course deal had been in the works for a couple of years, and local sources say that Sheikh Mohammed had to fend off a strong bid from Chinese interests, who were equally determined to land Tiger's first course design. ("Money was not the big motive for Tiger," says businessman and seven-time UAE golf champion Ismail Sharif. "There were other countries that would offer one more zero to get him.")