Greg Norman makes controversial appearance at the US Masters

Australia’s polarising boss of golf’s rebel tour is walking the fairways of Augusta National Golf Club with regular patrons.

Greg Norman at Augusta National on Wednesday. Picture: Supplied

A justified arrival? Antagonistic? All a bit rich? Greg Norman has made a controversial appearance at the US Masters, telling his LIV Golf players, “The boss is here, rooting for you.”

Australia’s polarising boss of golf’s rebel tour walked the fairways of Augusta National Golf Club with regular patrons. He’s understood to have entered the premises as a ticketed customer before watching his LIV players in practice rounds.

Greg Norman, LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner. Picture: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

“Walking around here today, there’s not one person who said to me, ‘Why did you do LIV?’” Norman told the Washington Post.

“There’s been hundreds of people, even security guys, stopping me, saying, ‘Hey, what you’re doing is fantastic’. To me, that tells you that what we have and the platform fits within the ecosystem, and it’s good for the game of golf.”

Norman has previously said that he did not believe he would ever be welcomed back to Augusta because of his association with the Saudi-backed breakaway league.

Augusta National chairman Fred S. Ridley last year said an invitation to Norman had been withheld “to keep the focus on the competition”.

Norman and Australian golfer Min Woo Lee during a practice round at Augusta. Picture: Supplied

He entered the club on Wednesday through the main gate in his trademark wide-brimmed hat. His shirt had the LIV logo on it.

His supporters would say, why should he be denied access? Traditionalists would suggest his appearance was provocative and inappropriate. “I’m here because we have 13 players that won 10 Masters between them,” Norman said.

“So I’m here just to support them, do the best I can to show them, ‘Hey, you know, the boss is here rooting for you.’

“I try to strip away all that other stuff, all the white noise and stuff. These guys are the best. So when the best get with the best, you’re always going to see the best rise at the top, no matter who where they play.”