LIV Golf in talks about women’s tour, says Greg Norman
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LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman has said that he is considering creating a women's circuit.
PHOTO: AFP
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ADELAIDE – Golf’s rebel LIV tour is considering creating a women’s circuit and has approached American and European players who are keen to be involved, chief executive officer Greg Norman said on Thursday.
LIV Golf sparked turmoil in the sport when it launched in 2022 with the backing of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, luring star players away from the established men’s US PGA Tour with lucrative contracts.
Norman now has his eye on doing the same with the women.
“That is a discussion we have internally on a regular basis,” he said in Adelaide, ahead of this week’s maiden Australian leg of the 54-hole, no-cut tour, which features 48 players in 12 teams.
“I have personally had discussions with individual LPGA Tour players, LET Tour players, Ladies European Tour. They love what our product is showcasing.
“They ask all the time, ‘How can we get involved? We’d love to see a LIV ladies series’.
“The answer to their question is yes, we talk about it internally, and I have had discussions with individual lady players, professional players.”
But the Australian is also conscious that he first needs to get the men’s version right, with the tour still finding its feet in only its second season.
While the Australia event this week is a sell-out,
There are also the legal battles with the PGA Tour – a trial date for an antitrust lawsuit is set for January 2024 – and the DP World Tour.
Norman added that he hopes there will be a resolution to the sport’s civil war. But he warned he would “always support our players” after the Europe-based DP World Tour won its case earlier in April.
An arbitration panel ruled that the DP World Tour was correct to impose sanctions on members who appeared on the LIV circuit without permission.
It came after England’s Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood were among 12 players appealing against punishments the tour wanted to impose on those who took part in the inaugural LIV event near London in 2022.
Norman would not comment on ongoing legal matters, but said: “All I can tell you is this – from a LIV perspective, we’ll always support our players.
“We always have said that since Day 1. We believe in where we’re going and we’re going to be unwavering in that commitment.”
But he also offered an olive branch, reiterating that he was keen to sit down for talks with both the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour.
“LIV has always been consistent for the last 15 months, saying we’re happy to sit down with you, we’re happy to talk,” he said.
“I do hope there gets to a position where there is resolution to this because the game of golf doesn’t need to suffer.” AFP
