TIGER Woods was drawn deeper into the heart of golf’s uncivil war as Saudi-backed LIV Golf claimed to have failed FIVE times to serve a legal subpoena on him.

And Rory McIlroy has also been dragged into the fight by having the papers served on him.

Woods and McIlroy have been among the foremost critics of the new tour, backing the PGA in its fight against the rebel breakaway.

The US star declined a reputed £650MILLION offer to sign up for the Saudis, with Northern Ireland’s McIlroy also refusing LIV’s advances.

LIV has accused the PGA and its supporters of a number of “antitrust violations”, claiming the game’s rulers have illegally attempted to kill its chances of success and demanding a huge compensation payment.

And now LIV lead lawyer Larry Klayman has thrown more oil on the fire with the announcement that legal action has started against Woods, McIlroy and former US Ryder Cup skipper Davis Love III.

In a statement issued from Palm Beach, Florida by “Freedom Watch USA”, the rebels stated that Klayman had “attempted to serve Tiger Woods with a subpoena for deposition”.

It added: “While two other alleged conspirators in this anticompetitive scheme, Rory McIlroy and David Love III, have been served, Mr. Woods, who is one of the alleged principal players enlisted by the PGA Tour to allegedly harm LIV Golf and its players, has evaded service of process.”

According to an official “affidavit of non-service”, lawyers for LIV called at Woods’ home in Jupiter, Florida, on four occasions between December 27 and January 2 and also at the headquarters of his charitable foundation on December 29.

On two occasions, it is claimed, Woods was said to be not at home or out of the country, but the subpoena was not accepted by security staff.

Klayman said: “Mr. Woods, like all parties and deponents in this case, will be treated with respect. 

“However, as of today, it would appear that Mr. Woods has little respect for our legal right to depose him. 

“Accepting service for depositions is common practice and Mr. Woods is no different than any other American and has no reason to keep denying service. 

“Given his prior experiences with the law, this is unfortunate. 

“As of today, the process server has attempted five (5) different times and Mr. Woods has not made himself available to accept service or have someone else accept service on his behalf.”