Greg Norman is not nervous about the way forward for LIV Golf or his position inside it.
LIV’s CEO and commissioner made that clear Thursday when he spoke publicly for the primary time because the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and the Public Funding Fund of Saudi Arabia stunningly agreed to a framework settlement that may align males’s skilled golf for years to return.
Norman’s personal future inside the framework has been questioned because the events introduced June 6 that they’d signed the settlement. Throughout a Senate listening to in July relating to the deliberate alliance, paperwork confirmed that PGA Tour officers pushed to oust Norman as LIV’s CEO and commissioner throughout their negotiations with the DP World Tour and PIF (which funds LIV Golf) if the proposed partnership was finalized, with him as an alternative taking up a to-be-determined advisory position.
Norman, nevertheless, stated he by no means believed any of it.
“I knew it wasn’t true,” the two-time Open Championship winner advised reporters in Doral, Florida, the place LIV’s season-ending $50 million staff championship begins Friday at Trump Nationwide. “There’s a lot white noise operating round on the market that I paid zero consideration to as a result of I do know sitting on this seat at the moment, I do know each step I’ve made has been for the best causes, proper causes for the sport of golf.”
What the way forward for that sport appears to be like like stays unclear.
Final week, the PGA Tour stated in a memo to gamers that whereas it stays targeted on reaching a definitive settlement with PIF and the DP World Tour, it is also receiving curiosity from different potential traders. Sources advised ESPN that whereas the negotiations with PIF chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan and different officers with the nation’s sovereign wealth fund are ongoing, the proposed deal is much from getting finished for a wide range of causes.
The framework settlement that was introduced June 6 expires Dec. 31, though it might be prolonged, sources advised ESPN.
“I’ve my very own private factors what it’s, however I am not concerned with it. I do not wish to be concerned with it,” Norman advised reporters on the negotiations over the framework settlement. “There’s smarter folks concerned with that than I’m. I simply hope it does work. I actually do. I’ve all the time been a believer of that.”
Within the meantime, LIV Golf is ready to enter its third season in 2024, and optimism abounds.
Phil Mickelson hinted earlier this week that LIV’s roster will enhance subsequent yr, particularly with it back to being able to recruit players from other tours. And Norman, who’s been the frontman for LIV since its begin, stated Thursday the breakaway tour by no means has been in a greater spot.
“All indications are exhibiting that the place of LIV has by no means been stronger and that the success of our gamers and our model has by no means been in a greater place,” he advised reporters in Doral. “And as we glance ahead into 2024, we have a full schedule. We have some locations we have been to earlier than, however we have some new venues as effectively and we’re reaching totally different areas.”
