Greg Norman Was Allegedly Behaving Bizarrely To Rory McIlroy At The Masters
The 2024 Masters kicked off yesterday at Augusta, offering a momentary respite in golf’s divided landscape. While players align with their respective franchises like the Fireballs and Crushers GC in the LIV stable, there’s a semblance of harmony during this tournament, where both sides of golf’s civil war seemingly coexist on the same course. Yet,…
The 2024 Masters kicked off yesterday at Augusta, offering a momentary respite in golf’s divided landscape. While players align with their respective franchises like the Fireballs and Crushers GC in the LIV stable, there’s a semblance of harmony during this tournament, where both sides of golf’s civil war seemingly coexist on the same course. Yet, amidst this illusion of unity, LIV CEO Greg Norman appears intent on ruffling the feathers of his nemesis, Rory McIlroy.
McIlroy and Norman have been central figures in golf’s ongoing drama for the past 20 months. While McIlroy appears less inclined to be the face of the PGA Tour nowadays, Norman seems to relish in needling the Co. Down native.
The Shark, a veteran of 23 Masters tournaments, finds himself attending the 2024 event as a spectator after being denied official course access. Reports indicate Norman had to purchase tickets through secondary markets. Despite his responsibilities supporting the thirteen LIV players, Norman has reportedly kept a close eye on McIlroy, his old acquaintance.
During Round One, Norman was spotted in the gallery, shadowing McIlroy’s group alongside Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. Chris ‘Soly’ Solomon of the No Laying Up podcast highlighted instances of Norman’s peculiar behavior during the Thursday round.
On the fifth hole, witnesses observed Norman awkwardly vying for McIlroy’s attention, standing near the ropes and staring at him. Despite his efforts, McIlroy remained focused, ignoring the distraction.
Later, between the ninth and tenth holes, Norman positioned himself near the putting green, sporting a mischievous grin as McIlroy passed by without acknowledgment. These actions seemed calculated solely to unsettle McIlroy, leaving observers perplexed.
When questioned about Norman’s presence, McIlroy claimed ignorance, indicating he hadn’t noticed him. Despite the distractions, McIlroy managed a respectable one-under round of 71, while his playing partner Scheffler displayed formidable form.
As Day 2 unfolds, it remains to be seen what antics Norman has in store.