Greg Norman shares permanent promise over LIV Golf future from Saudi chiefs
Greg Norman is adamant that LIV Golf is not going anywhere despite the ongoing talks between the PGA Tour and Saudi Arabia ‘s sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Norman, 69, says that is the remit he is working to from his boss, PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan. The Saudi businessman met with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and the tour’s player directors for negotiations as recently as mid-March.
Those discussions remain ongoing as the first anniversary of the framework agreement between the DP World Tour, PGA Tour and PIF approaches. That is despite the end of last year being the deadline for a definitive agreement to be approved and reached before being extended into 2024.
Norman is not involved in those discussions, but due to his working relationship with Al-Rumayyan, he was asked about the situation this week at LIV Golf Singapore – where Brooks Koepka was victorious in the individual event.
“I’m just gonna answer as the CEO of LIV,” he told Bloomberg. “My boss told me LIV is not gonna go anywhere. It’ll be well and truly in operation, running well past his death. Now he’s a young guy [Al-Rumayyan turned 54 in February].
“So he’s asked me just to stay focused and deliver LIV. LIV is a standalone entity. He’s invested billions of dollars into this. And we are starting to see the creation of an ROI (return on investment) within this. So we’re gonna stay focused over here.”
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Greg Norman walking on-course at LIV Golf Singapore
Koepka also shared a similar stance during a press conference in Singapore on Thursday when asked about the league’s future. “I mean, the merger is also between PIF and the PGA Tour,” he stressed. “I think that’s the difference.
“It’s not LIV Golf; it’s the PIF and the PGA Tour. I think that’s something that needs to be well-known. Look, we have no idea. The PGA Tour has no idea. Our job is to go play golf, and that’s it. That’s what we’re here to do. But I think it’s important that that merger is that way.”
On the back of that response, Graeme McDowell also spoke optimistic about the tour’s future. “I think we all believe that the product we’re playing in right now is strong, and we don’t think it’s going to go away anytime soon,” he said.
McDowell later concluded: “I really feel like the trajectory is moving us in the right direction, and I don’t think this product is going anywhere anytime soon, regardless of any mergers.”
Further comments from Norman spoke to that trajectory in reiterating its initial plans to purchase the places where it plays its events, referencing the Philippines as one country showing interest. He also told Bloomberg: “Think about LIV owning all their own golf courses, each team having a home venue and they host.
“And now you can build out around that. It’s not just a golf course,” before later confirming: “We are gonna be doing that.”