Greg Norman: I knew I wouldn’t get sacked in LIV-PGA Tour merger

Greg Norman claims he had “zero” concerns about losing his job during the shock “merger” between the Saudi sovereign wealth fund and the PGA Tour – even when it was revealed at a US Senate hearing that a main condition in the “framework agreement” was for his sacking as LIV Golf chief executive.

Those revelations came in the summer, shortly after the announcement that stunned the game, as Yasir Al-Rumayyan – the governor of the Kingdom’s $600bn treasure chest and also the chairman of Newcastle United – seemingly ended golf’s Civil War by ending the legal fight and entering into peace talks with Sawgrass HQ.

Yet even though Norman was not privy to this historic breaking of bread, he insists there were not any worries on his behalf, despite documents showing that the US circuit were demanding his immediate removal.

“I knew it wasn’t true,” Norman said. “There is so much white noise out there. I paid very, very little… I actually paid zero attention to it. I know sitting in this seat today, every step I’ve made has been for the right reasons for the game of golf… So I was never in any fear of anybody saying anything or any animus against me or anything like that. Because this business model works…

“All indications show you that the position of LIV has never been stronger and the position and success of our players and our brand has never been in a better place.”

These were Norman’s first public comments since the “merger” story broke at the start of June. Speaking to a small group of journalists, including Telegraph Sport, here at Trump Doral on the eve of the concluding event of the LIV 2023 season, the 68-year-old emitted an air of supreme confidence as he dismissed the theories of the impending termination of his breakaway league.

“Zero, zero,” he replied if there were any fears when the alliance was first announced. “On the 6th [of June] I had zero and I have zero today.

“I knew exactly the investment into LIV and the long-term ability of the franchises [LIV’s 12 teams], and the valuation of each one of these franchises. The money was always going to be invested in that and it will continue to be invested in that. I knew LIV was always going to exist.”

Norman acknowledged that he has no role whatsoever the ongoing negotiations, but is rooting for a pact to be reached. “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 to them to figure it out. I’m truly having a great time doing this. The journey’s been worth it.”

What Monahan will feel about Norman’s stance is anyone’s guess, but the two-time major winner is adamant that his vision of a global circuit 30 years ago is being proven correct. LIV golfers, he feels, should be able to play in PGA Tour events.

“That was our original premise to have guys share no different than what I had in 1993 with the world tour, right?” he said. “You could play 12 events and still go play on the PGA Tour, but over here you had a chance to make significant generational wealth over here. You could still play with the PGA Tour.

“Now remember, we had only one place to go, that was the PGA Tour, [which owned] our [media rights], they told us where we could play and couldn’t play. We had no chance in hell of really expanding our generational wealth.

“Now, the guys on the PGA Tour are going to see the benefits of that. You’re seeing changes in the Tour since LIV. So we’ve become a leader in helping everybody understand how to commercialise the game of golf.”

The 2024 schedule is set to be revealed in the forthcoming weeks and Norman is certain there will be new signings. “Our next couple of months are probably going to be my most exciting time,” Norman said. “I’m definitely seeing a lot of FOMO [fear of missing out]. Personally I’m speaking to numerous players who want to come to LIV.”

And he maintained that this will occur - deal or no deal. Norman declared that his enterprise will not be subsumed. “LIV is independent,” he said. “I don’t see LIV going anywhere but up.”