LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has revealed he has recently held talks with a “top” PGA Tour star over a potential move to the Saudi-backed venture.
The Shark is gearing up for this week’s event in Adelaide. In what appears to be an excellent marketing opportunity for the breakaway league. Norman brought out star signing Jon Rahm to face the media alongside South Australia’s Premier and LIV Golf enthusiast, Peter Malinaskas.
Considering the lack of criticism from those Down Under, there’s an opportunity for the league’s reputation to grow this week.
Brooks Koepka’s hole-in-one at The Grange has once again done the rounds on LIV’s social media platforms; Norman and Co would undoubtedly love another ace on their fabricated ‘party hole’ this week.
Greg Norman reveals LIV Golf talks with ‘top’ PGA Tour star
Whether traditionalists like it or not, LIV Golf isn’t going anywhere and the recent Masters viewing figures should be a stark reminder of where the game is heading.
Failure to reach an agreement will see the elite players continually wilt to the hundreds of millions dangled in front of them. Regardless of the ethical issues underpinning the LIV venture, $500million is a relatively effective bargaining tool.
Speaking to the media ahead of Friday’s first round, Norman has revealed he has recently held talks with a “top” PGA Tour player.
“It’s understanding the facts about what LIV represents and what LIV can deliver on a global basis. It’s up to you to determine it,” he said [quotes via Golf Digest].
“I’ve sat down with one top, top PGA Tour player in his house with another member of my team, walking through the whole process, and he was so impressed. He said, ‘Well, that’s not what we’re told in the locker room. This is really impressive’.
“But he made the decision, he told me up two days later and said, ‘I’ve decided to stay where I’m at’. I said, ‘Happy days, you made a decision on fact. If you’re happier over here, that’s fine; stay there. If you want to come back and have a conversation with us, happy to do that’.”
The Great White Shark continues to hunt
Norman’s nickname feels all the apt. The breakaway league isn’t going anywhere; if anything, it’s going to go from strength to strength.
Jay Monahan cannot rest on his laurels. The PGA Tour commissioner must find some resolution to prevent any more of his flagship players from venturing into shark-infested waters.
Thankfully for Monahan, rumour of Rory McIlroy’s departure appeared to be fiction. The Northern Irishman was quick to play down any PGA Tour departure.
The Guardian reports that Viktor Hovland is next on LIV’s wishlist. The Norwegian missed the cut at The Masters and promptly withdrew from last week’s RBC Heritage. After Norman’s comments, the 26-year-old could well have been who he was talking to.
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