Greg Norman played a leading role in the formation of LIV Golf back in 2022.
Norman has been at loggerheads with the PGA Tour since the mid 1990s, so it was no surprise to see him take on such a pivotal role with LIV Golf.
However, Norman has rejected accusations that he joined LIV to destroy the PGA Tour. Whether that’s true or not is another matter entirely.
The Australian famously tried to start a breakaway tour in 1994 – one that never got off the ground because he failed to get the backing of his fellow PGA Tour players.
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“For him to try and trivialise what the greats before him did to grow and create what the PGA Tour is today is an absolute disgrace. You should hang your head in shame, Shark.”
Wayne Grady
“Let me just sum this up with a couple of words. First of all, Greg Norman is an icon in the game of golf. He’s a great player. We’ve been friends for a long time, and regardless of what happens, he’s going to remain a friend. Unfortunately, he and I just don’t see eye to eye in what’s going on [with LIV]. I’ll basically leave it at that.”
Jack Nicklaus
“Greg needs to go; he needs to exit stage left. He’s made his mark but I think now is the right time to say you’ve got this thing off the ground but no one’s going to talk unless there’s an adult in the room that can actually try to mend fences.”
Rory McIlroy
Norman finally got his wish in 2022, when he pioneered the inception of LIV Golf.
The 70-year-old actually left his role at LIV earlier this year, but he is still a staunch supporter of the fledgling golf league.
Greg Norman shares opinion on potential PGA Tour merger with LIV Golf
Norman has never been afraid to speak his mind.
However, his brazen and unashamedly partisan takes on LIV Golf over the past few years have been to his detriment.
Most golf fans can see through the propaganda and the proof is in the pudding. The plain fact of the matter is that not many people watch LIV Golf and if nothing changes, that will be their downfall in the end.
However, Norman doesn’t see it that way at all … apparently.
When speaking on the Beyond 23 Podcast, Norman was asked whether he envisions LIV Golf merging with the PGA Tour at any point in the near future.
“I would wrap it up in a nutshell. Basically what I love about what is happening in sport, with the IPL, golf now today, is private equity.
“I love it where the athletes, male and female, benefit and get some generational wealth.
“So the same thing applies to LIV. My whole objective was to give the players more opportunity to make more money.
“How do we do that? You have to create competition. And at the end of the day when you look at what happened with LIV and the private equity coming in, with substantial billions of dollars coming into it, it all went into the right direction and it created this competitive landscape for the players and the institutions in a lot of ways, because they had to step back.
“Now look where it is today. They have had private equity come in so you go hallelujah. That’s what it’s all about, I achieved my goal of the players, the sport and the fans.
“Will the PGA Tour and LIV get together? It doesn’t matter any more. They have both found their footing. The foundation is there, private equity is here and private equity is there. I’m happy.“
That last answer was truly bizarre. ‘They have both found their footing’, Norman said. Seriously? The truth of the matter is that LIV Golf is nowhere near where they thought they would be right now.
Bryson DeChambeau is really the only player they have among their ranks who the PGA Tour genuinely miss.
Perhaps Jon Rahm as well but the Spaniard isn’t the needle-mover many people think he is when it comes to viewing figures.
In reality, LIV Golf needs a merger with the PGA Tour more than ever right now.
The PGA Tour definitely doesn’t need LIV Golf
There is no doubt that the PGA Tour is in a real position of strength right now.
Conversely, LIV Golf is struggling badly. They have lost their identity by switching to 72-hole tournaments and are struggling to attract new signings.
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Being rejected by Si Woo Kim and Sungjae Im would have hurt LIV and there are now rumors that Brooks Koepka is unhappy and is considering leaving the Saudi-backed outfit.
If Norman truly believes that LIV doesn’t need the PGA Tour anymore, he is delusional.
If LIV are unable to sign players, their product and philosophy will be ripped apart at the seams.
The PGA Tour is thriving right now. Their viewership figures continue to rise year after year and the recent investment from SSG has secured the long-term future of the Tour as an entity.
LIV Golf is the complete opposite of that right now. Obviously they have the backing from PIF (Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund), but that money will mean nothing without a product which is in demand from golf fans.
Only time will tell whether LIV Golf will be part of the golfing landscape moving forward but as things stand, it’s not looking good for them right now.
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