Those hoping to see the golfing world come back together in the near future may have felt a sense of relief with the news that Greg Norman was set to be replaced as the chief executive of LIV Golf.
When the dust settles on this chapter in golfing history, it is likely that Greg Norman will be viewed as a hugely significant figure in the civil war which has divided the game at the highest level.
Norman played the role of disrupter in chief to perfection as he helped turn LIV Golf into the force it has become. Certainly, it is hard to imagine LIV making such an impact so quickly had it not been Norman at the helm.
However, it is fair to say that the Australian has not made many friends on the opposite side during his tenure. Tiger Woods said Norman needed to go for the game to come back together, while Rory McIlroy was never afraid to say what he thought of the two-time Open champion.
Greg Norman shares his plans after leaving role as LIV Golf CEO
LIV have now decided to move in a different direction. Scott O’Neil has been announced as the new CEO of LIV, with Norman set to step away from the role. However, it seems that the 69-year-old is far from done with LIV, as he explained to Australian Golf Digest.
“Once my official tenure at LIV is up, which is August 31st of this year, I will stay involved with LIV in some way, shape or form. I’m going to stay on the board. So there will be that part of my life, but it won’t be as consuming as what it was before,” he said.
“When I look back on my past three-and-a-half years, from my past 20 years, oh my gosh, I really have changed the game of golf more than what people realise.”
“I’d like to double the portfolio of golf courses I’ve opened. I’ve done 124 now. I’d love to have 250 done in the next whatever number of years,” he added.
“So, no retirement. Slow down, yes. But no retirement.”
How history is likely to remember Greg Norman after LIV Golf stint
Perhaps history will be kind to Norman once it is clear what the future of the sport looks like. If the PGA Tour and the PIF somehow find a way to work through the current mess, then some will be somewhat grateful to LIV for being the catalyst for change.
However, we are a long way off that scenario becoming a reality. It is hard to see how the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour and LIV Golf can co-exist in a way which also sees the best players face off much more often than they do now.
Norman is unlikely to have any regrets. Norman pitched a breakaway tour during the 1990s in a move which led to Arnold Palmer leaving the room after pledging to stay with the PGA Tour. So it is no surprise that LIV turned to him ahead of its 2022 launch.
It has seen him become one of the biggest names in the sport once again. But it is probably fair to say that being involved with LIV has not exactly done his legacy many favours.
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