LIV Golf has been at war with the PGA Tour since its inception, with Greg Norman the man tasked with leading the breakaway movement – but his time is set to come to an end
Tiger Woods’ plea for Greg Norman to step down as the chief of LIV Golf might just come to fruition, creating a chance for harmony with the PGA Tour.
Since its inception in 2021, Norman has helmed LIV Golf and encountered fierce conflict with the PGA Tour following the introduction of player bans into the Saudi-funded league. The split in men’s professional golf reached a climax during Norman’s tenure. Two years ago, Woods, one of golf’s most iconic figures, expressed his thoughts on the possibility of a detente.
“Right now as it is, not right now, not with their leadership, not with Greg there and his animosity towards the Tour itself I don’t see that happening,” Woods commented towards the end of 2022 on whether the warring tours could coexist. “I think Greg’s got to leave and then we can eventually, hopefully, have a stay between the two lawsuits and figure something out. But why would you change anything if you’ve got a lawsuit against you? They sued us first.”
A turning point seems to have arrived as both parties have dropped their legal battles, following an agreement established last June. PGA Tour officials, Woods among them, have been said to be in intense discussions with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, leaving Greg Norman out of the conversation.
Although an agreement hasn’t been finalised, it looks like Woods’ assertion that Norman should be ousted is on its way to being realised, reports the Mirror US. Given the latest buzz in sports news, Norman himself conceded this week that a new CEO for LIV is indeed on the horizon.
Stating to Wish TV, he said: “Is there going to be a new CEO? Yes. There will be a new CEO. I’m fine with that,” adding, “Will I always have a place and be involved with LIV to some capacity? Yes.”
Tiger Woods called for Greg Norman to step aside ( Image: Getty Images)
“I’ll always have that. Because of the impact that has been created in the game of golf by LIV, I’ve had a small, small piece of that, which I’m proud of… I’ve seen it come from a business model on paper to giving birth on the golf course to where it is today.”
Last month, Sports Business Journal initially broke the story about Norman’s potential displacement and now reports suggest LIV chiefs are eyeing Scott O’Neil as his successor. O’Neil, until recently at the helm of Merlin Entertainments, confirmed his exit from the entertainment company based in London last November.
