LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has slammed the criticism the likes of Jon Rahm, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka have faced following their moves away from the PGA Tour.
Greg Norman thinks the criticism some of his biggest LIV Golf stars have faced following their shock moves away from the PGA Tour in recent years has been nothing short of ‘disgusting’.
LIV Golf CEO Norman, 69, made his feelings be known in an interview with Bloomberg.
The Australian’s remarks are made as the 2024 schedule of LIV Golf League nears its end with only a few events left.
Norman is pleased with the advancements made by the breakaway Saudi golf league in the last three years, but he is appalled by the negative criticism and hostility directed towards major champions such as Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau, and Cameron Smith.
Criticism has been rife among a large number of fans, PGA Tour players such as Rory McIlroy and even leading analysts such as Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee ever since LIV Golf’s inauguration in the summer of 2022.
However, even both McIlroy and Chamblee appear to have eased in their bashing of LIV Golf in recent months, especially with a potential PGA Tour-PIF deal on the horizon.
Rahm signed for LIV Golf at the end of 2023 in a five-year deal worth a reported $600m.
Others such as Johnson, Smith, DeChambeau and Koepka joined on multi-year deals within the region of $125m and $175m each.
“I compliment the boys who came over, the first movers,” Norman told Bloomberg.
“They came on with massive amounts of headwind.
“The vitriol and hatred was just disgusting to be quite honest with you. Considering what these guys have done for the game of golf.
“How they have carried the game of golf, and the institutions they represented. It was disgusting.”
There is much expectation that the PGA Tour will finalize its framework agreement with the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), backers of LIV Golf, before the conclusion of the 2024 season.
If a business agreement is reached by both sides, many believe it will result in the rejoining of the professional game.
Richard Bland from England has won consecutive senior majors by defeating his opponents in a playoff at the US Senior Open in relation to LIV Golf.
“Bland, who recently claimed victory in the Senior PGA tournament, emerged victorious against Japan’s Hiroyuki Fujita in a sudden death playoff during the Monday conclusion at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island.”
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