States offering taxpayers’ money fpr Greg Norman to bring LIV Golf to Australia

Golf legend Greg Norman is bringing his controversial new golf league to Australia - and taxpayers may be footing the bill.

State governments are putting taxpayers’ money on the table to land a tournament in the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf league.

Australian golf legend Greg Norman, the LIV chief executive, has already held talks with state ministers in his search for a course to host an event as soon as April next year.

In an exclusive interview, when asked if governments were offering money to lure a tournament, Norman said: “Yeah, definitely conversations have been had. Negotiations will probably pick up here in the next week.

“There’s been a lot of interest from state governments all the way down to golf clubs,” he said.

South African golfer Charl Schwartzel (left) with LIV Golf chief executive Greg Norman after winning at The Centurion Club in St Albans, north of London. Picture: Adrian Dennis/AFP

The rebel league has driven a wedge in the sport, with top players, including Australia’s world No.2 Cameron Smith, defecting despite warnings that LIV is a “sports-washing” vehicle for the Saudi Arabian regime.

Asked about that criticism and the presence of demonstrators at LIV’s last tournament in Boston, Norman said: “I don’t even pay attention to that, to be honest with you.

“All I can tell you is I’m here for the game of golf … I focus on building the best league we can,” he said.

From next year, LIV will run a 14-event global tour, with courses in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria believed to be in the running to host the Australian event.

Norman refused to reveal which state ministers he had spoken to, saying it was “best to keep those confidential for now”.

But he said his team had visited at least two dozen courses to scout potential locations, and had only been rejected by Royal Sydney.

“We’ve been to all the prime states that love to host sporting events,” he said.

“The interest in Australia is extremely high.”

Norman said he expected a deal to lock in the Australian event would be done this month, with plans to move the tournament around every couple of years to enable more fans to attend.

Cameron Smith of Australia. Picture: Andy Lyons/Getty Images/AFP

The LIV format includes a team competition with 12 squads that will eventually be sold off as individual franchises. Norman said his “ultimate dream” when he took charge of LIV was creating an Australian team, which Smith is now leading.

From next year, Norman said the four-player teams would be wearing the same uniforms, and that Smith and other captains would choose new names for their squads.

“Something that many people are overlooking is the value of the franchises,” he said.

“When you look at the value of other leagues around the world, whether it’s IPL or just look at what Kerry Packer did for cricket … the opportunity is here now for golf.”

NOT SIGNING TRUMP’S CARD YET

Australian golf legend Greg Norman has declined to endorse his friend Donald Trump for another run at the White House.

Norman, who has been friends with the keen golfer since the early 1990s, backed him to win the 2016 presidential election and then played an instrumental role connecting him with then Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.

He has previously praised Mr Trump as having “the stars and stripes running pure through his veins” and said he expected he would win again in 2020.

But as the defeated former president now mulls another run against Joe Biden in 2024, his golfing buddy sidestepped questions about whether he believed he should seek re-election.

“I can’t make an opinion on that because I really don’t know,” he said in an exclusive interview.

“If you want to follow the white noise in the media, you can, and you can fall down either side you want. I don’t … I’m so busy doing what I’m doing right now.”

LIV Golf CEO and commissioner Greg Norman talks with former US President Donald Trump on the first tee during the pro-am prior to the LIV Golf Invitational - Bedminster. Picture: Jonathan Ferrey/LIV Golf via Getty Images

Norman said he had not spoken to Mr Trump since the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf league run by the Australian held a tournament in July at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.

“When I was there, he didn’t say anything to me about (running again),” Norman said.

“He’s very, very passionate about his golf.”

Mr Trump – who has indicated he plans to run in 2024 – has been a strong supporter of the LIV league, which will also host its season-ending team championship at one of the former president’s courses in Miami next month.

“I’ve known these people for a long time in Saudi Arabia. They’ve been friends of mine for a long time, and they’ve invested in many American companies,” Mr Trump said recently.

“Frankly, what they’re doing for golf is so great. What they’re doing for players is so great, the salaries are gonna go way up.”

In the hours after Mr Trump won the 2016 election, it was Norman who gave the president’s mobile number to Mr Turnbull so he could personally congratulate him, helping at the request of Australia’s US ambassador Joe Hockey.

Norman later lobbied Mr Trump on the importance of the Australia-US alliance.

Speaking prior to the 2020 election, when Mr Trump lost to Mr Biden, Norman encouraged his friend to stay true to himself and “speak more to the success of his presidency and the economy”.

“On foreign policy, he’s done phenomenal,” Norman said at the time.