The major factor often luring players towards the LIV Golf setup is the eye-watering amounts of money on offer, but CEO Greg Norman believes there is more to it than the cash
Greg Norman has guaranteed there is ‘way more’ to LIV Golf than the cash, after the Saudi-supported series added four new players to its program including Bosses champion Jon Rahm.
Norman was in participation at Abu Dhabi Golf Club last end of the week for the association’s very first Qualifying School occasion, LIV Advancements. The 72-opening competition saw three players contending in the field procure spots on the radical circuit for 2024, with Kalle Samooja, Jinichiro Kozuma and Kieran Vincent proving to be the best.
A place on the LIV roster is no doubt a life-changing moment for the three qualifiers, who will join the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka in competing for a £16million ($20m) at each event next year.
LIV boss Norman however believes Samooja, Kozuma and Vincent benefits will not only be financial during their time with the league. “Take the prize money away,” Norman said. “It’s the fact that they get to be in the locker room and listen to those major champions and former No. 1’s in the world and just be with them and understand what it takes to get to that level..
“There’s way more to it than just money.” One former world No. 1 and major champion that the three qualifiers will be brushing shoulders with is Rahm, after his shock move to the breakaway league was finally announced late last week.
The Spaniard becomes the latest big name to sign with Norman and co, following in the footsteps of the likes of Mickelson and Koepka. Rahm however will go down as the league’s marque signing, having reportedly signed a record-breaking £450m.
And despite Norman playing down the importance of money, Rahm admitted the eye-watering sum more than a played a part in his decision. He told the Pat McAfee Show: “I’m not going to duck the question and I’ll say it, obviously the money is very, very nice.
I’m not going to give you the whole spiel. I still don’t play golf for money, but as a father, as a husband, as a family man, I do owe it to my family to set them up the best I can, and luckily I have the possibility. So that was a big part of it.”
The comments could not be further than Rahm’s previous stance on the LIV Golf setup though. Speaking at last summer’s U.S. Open, the 29-year-old discussed the remarkable amounts of money the Saudi-backed league were offering players but insisted he personally would not be lured in.
“Cash is perfect, however when [wife] Kelley and I… this first thing occurred, we began discussing it, and we’re like, will our way of life change assuming I got $400million? No, it won’t transform the slightest bit,” he guaranteed in June 2022. “Honestly, I could resign right now with what I’ve made and carry on with an exceptionally blissful life and not play golf once more.
“So I’ve never truly played the sport of golf for money related reasons. I play for the love of the game, and I need to play against the best on the planet. I’ve forever been keen on history and heritage, and at the present time the PGA Visit has that.”