Greg Norman slams ‘disgusting hatred’ aimed at LIV Golf stars in staunch defence of Mickelson and co

Greg Norman, the CEO of LIV Golf, has strongly criticized the hostile treatment directed at players who left the PGA Tour and DP World Tour to join LIV Golf. Norman, a key figure in the rapid development of LIV Golf, which has been heavily financed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), expressed his outrage over the negative reception faced by these players.

The inaugural event of the breakaway league took place in June 2022, attracting prominent golfers such as Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson. Following this, other notable names including Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Cameron Smith also joined the league, significantly boosting its profile.

The decision to switch to LIV Golf was met with intense backlash and resulted in suspensions from the PGA Tour for those involved. Although the tension between the two tours has somewhat subsided over the past two years, Norman remains vocal about the harsh criticism his players faced initially.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Norman praised the players who made the early move to LIV Golf, acknowledging the significant challenges they faced. “I compliment the boys who came over, the first movers,” he said. “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 and the institutions they represented, it was disgusting.”

Efforts to reconcile the differences between the tours have been underway, particularly following the PGA Tour’s announcement last June of a framework agreement with PIF aimed at aligning with LIV Golf. However, despite the easing of some tensions, a final agreement has not yet been reached. Negotiations continue between PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan and his Saudi counterparts, with progress still to be made.

Initially, those involved hoped to finalize the peace agreement by the end of 2023, setting a deadline of December 31. This deadline passed without a deal, with further hopes of completion by April’s Masters also unmet. As of now, despite reports of a draft agreement being in place ahead of the U.S. Open, the future direction of professional golf remains uncertain.

Commissioner Monahan acknowledged the ongoing discussions, stating, “Both parties recognize that there is still work to do to reach a final agreement. Our talks are ongoing with the goal of developing a shared vision for the future of professional golf that is pro-competitive and provides players with the best global opportunities.”