Ex-LIV CEO Greg Norman ‘really don't care’ if PGA Tour and LIV Golf ties up after ousting him

Golf: LIV Golf Greenbrier - Source: Imagn
Greg Norman at LIV Golf Greenbrier (Image via Imagn)

Greg Norman played a crucial role in the development of LIV Golf. The World Golf Hall of Famer claimed that he never planned to destroy the PGA Tour while leading LIV as its first chairman. Now, months after his ousting from the role, the Aussie legend has revealed that he “don’t know” and “don’t care” if the two circuits join hands.

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Norman was named as the Saudi-backed series’ first chief executive and commissioner in late 2021. He continued in the chair until being replaced by Scott O'Neil earlier this year. Speaking in a recent podcast, the 20-time PGA Tour winner got candid about his aim and role at LIV. He claimed that he wanted to “work within the ecosystem” to create competition between the two-fighting series.

Norman even lauded the PGA Tour players controlling the circuit’s policy board and stated that he ‘wanted’ the same since 1993. However, he admitted being less bothered about the LIV and PGA’s probable future together.

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Speaking on the latest ‘Straight Talk’ podcast episode, Greg Norman said:

“Will the PGA Tour and LIV come together? I don't know, I really don't care.”

This came after he made some strong comments about picking the LIV Golf side in 2021. He said:

“The thing that bothers me the most about it is the perception that I was trying to destroy the PGA Tour. That is the total opposite. We were trying to work within the ecosystem. Competition's a wonderful thing…
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The reason why I went to LIV was to give the players an opportunity to create generational wealth… Now the players control the policy board. Now all of a sudden, the players have control over their own destiny. Hallelujah, yes! That's what I wanted in 1993.”
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Greg Norman on PGA Tour's LIV Golf-inspired changes

Earlier in October, Greg Norman, in his first interview since leaving LIV Golf, claimed that he managed to complete his mission with the Saudi-backed circuit. The 70-year-old veteran, who helped LIV become a PGA Tour competitor in just two years of its inception, agreed with the American circuit’s decision to make changes, including boosting the prize money and limiting the field size.

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Norman claimed that he was “quietly happy” as players benefited from the PGA Tour’s recent changes. It is pertinent to note that the American circuit rolled out signature events with field sizes cut and bigger paychecks after LIV Golf’s big-money 54-hole tournaments’ popularity rose.

Speaking to Australian Golf Digest about his tenure at the breakaway tour, Greg Norman said:

“It was just one of those things where you had to stay focused on what purpose you were going after and execute on that purpose. I think, from my perspective, I did that… They (PGA) started to see that what LIV did - bring private equity into the game of golf for the first time in 53 years - was a positive… Even with the PGA Tour (boosting its prize money with elevated events), I was quietly happy when I saw that, because the players benefited from it.”

It is pertinent to note that Greg Norman is working as part of the organizing committee for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane.

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Edited by Vishnu Mohan
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