Greg Norman breaks four months of silence on future of world golf
Controversial LIV golf advocate Greg Norman has come out swinging following speculation about his future.
Greg Norman has ended nearly four months of silence by declaring he has zero concerns for the future of LIV Golf and confirming plans for a 14-event season next year – the strongest sign yet that the wildly-successful Adelaide tournament will go ahead.
Norman, who was expected to be sacrificed as part of the proposed LIV-PGA Tour merger, also insisted he would remain at the helm of the rebel organisation.
“I knew it wasn’t true,” Norman told reporters in Florida on Friday.
“There’s so much white noise running around out there. I actually paid zero attention to it. I know sitting in this seat today, I know every step I’ve made has been for the right reasons.
“But golf is the principal reason why what I‘ve done today is right. So I was never in any fear of anybody saying anything or any animus against me or anything like that. Because the business model works.”
Norman insisted he was planning for LIV Golf to press on next year with an expanded schedule and said he had no interest in taking part in the merger talks.
“I have my own personal points what that is, but I’m not involved with it,“ he said.
“I don’t want to be involved with it. There’s smarter people involved with that than I am. I just hope it does work.
“I really do. I’ve always been a believer of that. That’s why I wanted to speak to (PGA Tour commissioner) Jay Monahan a long time ago.
“I wanted to speak to him to explain the value of what our product is. And the value of what we can give back to everybody.
“They chose not to. So I’ll leave it up them to figure it out. I’m truly having a great time doing this. The journey’s been worth it.”
The journey is expected to expand next season if Norman has his way. There had been talk that the Adelaide event would be in jeopardy under the merger but Norman said the tour would expand rather than shrink or disappear.
LIV also remains on the lookout for fresh talent to join a roster that already includes Australia’s top-ranked player, Open winner Cameron Smith.
“All indications are showing that the position of LIV has never been stronger and that the success of our players and our brand has never been in a better place,” Norman said.
”And as we look forward into 2024, we’ve got a full schedule. We’ve got some places we’ve been to before, but we’ve got some new venues as well and we’re reaching different regions.
“We’re going through this relegation process, trade process, building out the teams, getting the teams to a position that each captains wants to, negotiations, all that.
“All the stuff that really is going to energise it. With each year that goes by, this is really going to even more exciting for us.
“I know, personally I’m speaking to numerous players who want to come to LIV. LIV is independent. I don’t see LIV going anywhere but up.”
Dad’s the word as part-timer sets pace at Vic Open
Full-time dad, part-time golfer. That’s Josh Geary’s life. And the New Zealander hasn’t wasted a rare chance on course this week at the Victorian Open.
Australian Adam Scott in Trump appeal to end golf civil war
Adam Scott has met with Donald Trump in his role as a player director of the US PGA in an attempt to have the US President broker a deal to reunite the world of professional golf.