Greg Norman claims LIV Golf isn’t going anywhere
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LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman told LIV employees on a conference call this week that the new league is not going away
PHOTO: AFP
MIAMI – The future of LIV Golf is in question following Tuesday’s surprise announcement that the PGA Tour would merge commercial enterprises with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF),
But LIV chief executive Greg Norman does not see reason to worry, according to multiple reports. He told LIV employees on a conference call that the new league is not going away, Sports Illustrated and ESPN reported.
“LIV is and will continue to be a stand-alone enterprise,” he said. “Our business model will not change. We changed history, and we’re not going anywhere.”
He added that PIF’s deal with the PGA Tour and DP World Tour means “the spigot is now wide open for commercial sponsorships” and new business relationships.
Norman, who has been at the forefront of LIV’s battle with the PGA Tour, was not mentioned in any media statement about the PGA-PIF merger on Tuesday.
The proposed leadership structure of the new entity would see PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan as its chairman and current PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan as the CEO.
Norman was reportedly told about the deal minutes before Monahan and Al-Rumayyan appeared together for an interview on CNBC.
Despite all that, he also told staff that LIV is already working on its schedule for 2025, according to the reports. As for 2023, the league has completed half its 14-event schedule and is on a break until the Valderrama event in Spain from June 30 to July 2.
Even though LIV players may be given a path to return to the PGA Tour, LIV as a brand has become toxic to a large group of PGA Tour players who did not want the merger.
Rory McIlroy said on Wednesday that he still hates LIV, and if a team golf element comes to the PGA Tour, he hopes it is not under the LIV banner.
The idea that PGA Tour players who did not defect to LIV should receive some sort of compensation is also gaining legs.
Chesson Hadley, one of four co-leaders after Thursday’s opening round of the Canadian Open, fielded questions about the tie-up.
“I know nothing. I know as much as you know,” he said of his knowledge of the tour’s plans.
“Is it true that (Monahan) said he’s going to reward those who stayed loyal to the Tour? Did he say that yesterday?”
Monahan had said in an interview on Golf Today on Wednesday that players who turned down LIV to stay loyal to the PGA Tour “will be rewarded”.
“He said that about Rory and Tiger (Woods), didn’t he? Anyway, I would like to be rewarded for some loyalty,” added Hadley.
The 35-year-old also said he never had ill will towards the likes of Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson and Phil Mickelson, who chose LIV over the PGA Tour.
“Those guys didn’t do the wrong thing,” he said. “They made a business decision. I don’t hold that against anybody. But I would like to be rewarded for my decision to stay loyal.” REUTERS, AFP
