Hughes Norton, a former super agent, has shared intriguing insights about Greg Norman, including the origin of the concept behind the LIV Golf League.
Hughes Norton, who previously represented Greg Norman, has exposed the CEO of LIV Golf as a “typical narcissist” with a strong desire to be constantly seen and important.
The examination of Norman’s character was revealed in Norton’s latest book, Rainmaker, which follows his time as a former celebrity agent, and the challenges he faced while working with both Norman and Tiger Woods.
Norton collaborated with Norman for 11 years and expressed his disappointment when they eventually went their separate ways in 1993.
He said:
‘After 11 years together, he wanted to go on his own and I understood that a little bit more than Tiger, because superstars historically have sort of gone on their own after a period of time. They just do, no matter what management agency they’re with.
‘They think you know what, “everything before this has been good, everything’s all fine. No hard feelings. I really want to do it myself.” So that’s kind of the Greg situation.
‘He’s certainly entitled to that. Was I disappointed and shattered when he left? Yes, because we were such good friends and I didn’t expect it. But the Tiger situation was far and away more difficult and more disturbing.’
Norton worked for global sports agency IMG when he had both Woods and Norman on his books, and revealed that when Norman left, he took with him the blueprint for the LIV Golf league.
The former super agent revealed that LIV was never, in fact, Norman’s idea but the brainchild of IMG’s founder and former agent of Arnold Palmer, Mark McCormack.
He added:
“Mark McCormack was such a visionary, and so far ahead of his time – leaps and bounds ahead of everybody. And that’s a classic example.
“It’s really one of the major revelations of the book. LIV, which Greg has claimed as his own genius idea for a world tour, was actually thought up 30 years before Greg ever brought it out as his by this incredibly bright at-the-time manager of Arnold Palmer.
“Greg left IMG and fired me at the beginning of ‘94. He didn’t take long before he launched this world tour idea in the fall of that year.”
Even though Norman’s initial endeavor to organize a global tour in 94′ was a failure, three decades later, he has successfully reached his longstanding aspiration with the help of financial support from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.”
LIV, established in 2022, has evolved from being merely a rival to the PGA Tour to becoming a significant player in the golf industry by offering substantial financial incentives to top players. Recently, Jon Rahm became part of the breakaway league by signing a reported $600 million deal.
He is now leading his own team called Legion XIII, which includes another PGA Tour defector, Tyrrell Hatton.
Norton is claiming that he is observing the conflict between LIV and the PGA Tour from afar, but he is well aware of what actions he would have taken on behalf of his players if he were still working as an agent.
He said:
“You can discuss being loyal to the PGA, or you can discuss going against the traditions of the esteemed game of golf, but when someone presents you with the opportunity for wealth that will benefit future generations? The response would be A) Why would I refuse that? And the reality is, you can’t. And B) Where can I sign up? I couldn’t morally decline such an offer.”