A number of a big-name PGA Tour stars opted to make the move to LIV Golf just over two years ago, and the league’s CEO Greg Norman has hit out at the treatment of those who switched
Greg Norman has described the treatment of those who chose to defect from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to LIV Golf ‘disgusting’, in a staunch defence of his playing roster.
Norman has been the man behind the rapid rise of the LIV setup, who received the mega-money backing of the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF). The breakaway league’s first event came in June 2022, with the likes of Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson taking part.
Soon after a whole host of big names followed in their footsteps, with Norman acquiring the services of Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka and Cameron Smith in the weeks following the league’s maiden event at Centurion Golf Club.
The decision to make the Saudi switch was a big one for those involved, having faced a whole host of criticism, as well as suspension from the PGA Tour. Two years on, the fallout between the two tours has eased slightly, but this did not stop Norman from hitting out at the initial treatment of his players.
“I compliment the boys who came over, the first movers,” he told Bloomberg. “They came on with massive amounts of headwind. The vitriol and hatred was just disgusting to be quite honest with you. Considering what these guys have done for the game of golf
“How they have carried the game of golf, and the institutions they represented. It was disgusting.” It is expected that the civil war within professional golf will finally come to an end after the PGA Tour announced last June that they had reached a framework agreement with PIF.
