Greg Norman believes he won the PGA-LIV “debate” against Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
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Greg Norman LIFE Golf The term will officially end later this year after Scott O’Neil replaced him as CEO last week. But before he left, Norman said he would still be willing to sit down and chat with Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy about a topic.
No, not TGL.
Speaking with Australian Golf DigestNorman, who has traded barbs with McIlroy and Woods since the start of the LIV in 2022, said he would like to get what he sees as the final word on the LIV-PGA debate.
“I would like them to accept the fact that – how Tiger with his PIP money (Player Impact Program) – that only came about because of LIV, right? Norman said to the publication. “So Tiger took advantage of that. Rory has definitely benefited from this. I’d love to sit down and talk to them about it, for sure. Because I’m not a judgmental person and you only learn facts and truths when you hear the other side of it.”
“But, yes, would I like to sit with them? Of course, absolutely. And you know what? I would win the argument.”
Norman and LIV tore the golf world apart and caused a bitter rift that professional golf is still trying to mend. This split was accentuated by the feud between McIlroy and Norman, who shot each other during the early stages of golf’s civil war.
Norman said the PGA Tour had “brainwashed” McIlroy, while the four-time major winner called on Norman to “get off stage left” and let the “grown-ups” put the game back together. McIlroy also favored Norman when he passed him on the PGA Tour’s all-time winning list the week he launched LIV.
Last week, McIlroy hailed LIV’s decision to move from Norman as a “good move” for a league that is “already established.”
As for Woods and McIlroy’s new simulator golf league, TGL, don’t expect Norman to tune in. But just because he won’t be watching for personal reasons doesn’t exactly mean he hopes it fails.
“No, I haven’t seen it a bit because there are some players who have been very vocal against me,” Norman said. Australian Golf Digest. “So I’m not going to say anything positive or negative about it. All I can say is: The more golf is exposed in different ways, the better.
“Simulator golf is simulation golf. We had Putt-Putt and all those miniature golf courses we built around the world. I think innovation is a wonderful thing, I won’t underestimate it. I wish you all the best and success because it’s the market, isn’t it? They will attract people to the game of golf.”
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TGL has received mixed reviews during the first two weeks of airing. It is clear that the league has potential, but there are several things they must be regulated for it to flourish.
As for LIV, the breakaway league will begin its fourth season in February in Riyadh. The league recently announced a television deal with Fox, which will be Norman’s legacy whether interest in the league grows or not. (For more on this, read Hot Mic by my colleague, James Colgan.)
There has been no news of the pending PGA Tour-LIV merger for quite some time. Adam Scott, who is part of the PGA Tour Enterprises transaction subcommittee negotiating with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), said negotiations are moving slowly as they await word from the US Department of Justice.
While Norman will not be part of further negotiations with the PGA Tour, the outgoing CEO of LIV leaves his post believing he accomplished his mission.
“When I look back on my last three and a half years, out of the last 20 years, oh my gosh, I’ve really changed the game of golf more than people realize,” Norman said.
While McIlroy and Norman will never see eye to eye at the LIV and his goal, the Northern Ireland star gave Norman credit for continuing the league before suggesting it was time for him to hand over the reins.
“Greg put in a lot of effort the first two years,” McIlroy said last week in Dubai. “He’s probably one of the only guys in golf who could have taken that role. He got it off the ground, and you have to praise him for that. Now, it’s time for someone with a little more experience to take over.”
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