Why Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods should be thanking Greg Norman and LIV golf

Greg Norman has become the enemy of the US PGA establishment during his tenure as LIV Golf chief executive. As his time in the role comes to an end, some of the sport’s biggest names owe him thanks for golf’s ‘rivers of gold’, writes BRENT READ.

So it looks like Greg Norman’s time at the helm of LIV Golf is fast coming to an end. Rumours of his departure as chief executive have reared their head before, but this time they appear on the money.

Norman, for three years a thorn in the side of the PGA Tour, is set to be replaced as the face of the rebel league after the Saudi Public Investment Firm – which funds LIV Golf – reportedly contracted a London-based search firm to find a new chief executive.

The PGA Tour and its acolytes will no doubt be rejoicing. Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy have been among those to suggest peace between the warring golf tours can only be achieved when Norman is shunted aside.

Norman’s time at the helm of LIV Golf appears over. Picture: Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

They have engaged in a long-running war of words with the two-time major winner, although a ceasefire of sorts has been called in recent times as the rival tours edge towards an agreement on a unified way forward.

Yet Woods and McIlroy, as well as the other stars of world golf, owe Norman an enormous debt of gratitude. Their pockets have been lined like never before thanks to Norman and LIV golf, which drove a wedge through the sport but also unlocked rivers of gold for golf’s biggest names.

Tiger Woods has been an outspoken critic of Norman. Picture: Raj Mehta/Getty Images

Likewise, Rory McIlroy has spoken out against the Australian golfing great. Picture: Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

The rich got a whole lot richer thanks to Norman – and several Australians were among the beneficiaries. Cameron Smith will play in the Queensland PGA and NSW Opens in coming weeks in part because of his mega-money defection to LIV Golf.

Frozen out by the PGA Tour after accepting a pot of gold to switch tours only weeks after winning the Open Championship two years ago, he has found time in his schedule to return home and headline the field at events on the local tour.

Marc Leishman, Matt Jones and Lucas Herbert also cashed in on LIV’s generosity and although it cost them world rankings points and potentially the opportunity to play in majors, they have financial security beyond their wildest dreams.

Australian Ripper GC team’s Cameron Smith, Lucas Herbert (2nd from L), Marc Leishman (L) and Matt Jones (R) after winning the 2024 LIV Golf Team title. Picture: David Cannon/Getty Images

Beyond the players, the game in Australia also benefited. The LIV event in Adelaide has been a raging success and Norman played no small part in that, going where the PGA Tour has refused to go by playing a regular tournament on our shores.

The pressure is now rising on the PGA Tour to do the same. As for Woods and McIlroy, earlier this year it was reported that they would receive about $100 million and $50 million apiece – basically a loyalty payment – after the PGA Tour reached a private equity deal with Fenway Sports Group, the consortium that owns sporting giants Liverpool and the Boston Red Sox.

You reckon that happens without Norman taking up the fight to the PGA Tour? Not on your life. Woods and McIlroy aren’t the only high-profile PGA Tour loyalists to benefit from the golf war – a slew of players will be gifted millions thanks to a private equity deal believed to be worth up to $4.5 billion.

About $1.5 billion of that will reportedly be shared among the players who stayed with the PGA Tour. The likes of Jason Day, Adam Scott and Min Woo Lee stand to benefit to the tune of millions.

Even though not part of the LIV Golf tour, the likes of Adam Scott appear set to benefit from Norman’s efforts. Picture: Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Norman, meanwhile, has aggressively and defiantly defended LIV Golf in the face of withering personal criticism over the past three years. Only recently, he thumbed his nose at his critics as he celebrated the latest anniversary of his time in charge of LIV.

“We have come so far in such a short time period, managing all sorts of hostile headwinds, hurdles and untruths that I marvel at what we have accomplished to date,” he wrote on social media.

He went on to list a series of claims about LIV and how it has revolutionised the sport. He talked about players earning more money; bringing new energy and entertainment to a tired, monotonous sport: and opening up golf to untapped global markets.

On all fronts, he has a point. Norman promised to shake up the sport when he took on the job and he was true to his word. In the process, many of his loudest critics walked away richer for the experience.

Originally published as Why Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods should be thanking Greg Norman and LIV golf