LIV and let die: How Greg Norman’s rebel golf tour tried to boot him out
The established golf tours wanted LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman sidelined as part of the deal with the rebel circuit say documents released by the US Senate.
Majed Al-Sorour, CEO of Golf Saudi (right) with LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman. Photo: AP/Lynne Sladky
The PGA Tour sought to give the Australian golfing great the boot during negotiations with the rebel circuit, documents released ahead of hearings on Capitol Hill have revealed.
The release by the US Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations also revealed a proposal of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy owning LIV teams and playing in at least 10 LIV events per year.
Woods and McIlroy, who have been critical of LIV, were not thought to have known of the proposal.
A side letter to the main agreement between the tours and LIV called for Norman to be cast aside once the merger is complete.
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan’s draft of talking points for the PGA Tour policy board read, “Norman will be assigned to an advisory role determined by (Saudi’s Arabia’s Public Investment Fund) when the PGA Tour becomes the manager of the LIV Tour.”
The subcommittee said that its inquiry did not reveal if the “side agreement was ever executed.”
Among proposals by LIV in the April presentation was membership for PIF governor Yasir al-Rumayyan at Augusta and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews, LIV golfers having their PGA and European Tour membership restored and ranking points retroactively reflected for results on the LIV circuit.
Tuesday’s hearing was originally supposed to feature Monahan, Norman and al-Rumayyan. However, Norman and al-Rumayyan declined and Monahan was on the mend after an undisclosed health issue.
Opening the hearing US Senator Richard Blumenthal called the PGA Tour’s framework agreement with PIF an attempt by Saudi Arabia’s government to “buy influence” in American sports.
“Today’s hearing is about much more than the game of golf,” said Blumenthal.
“It is about how a brutal, repressive regime can buy influence – indeed even take over – a cherished American institution simply to cleanse its public image.
“A regime that has killed journalists, jailed and tortured dissidents, fostered the war in Yemen, and supported other terrorist activities,” added Blumenthal, who spoke of a feeling of “betrayal.”
PGA Officials said the merger would involve the Saudi PIF putting in “north of US$1bn”.
LIV Golf has not released its 2024 season schedule on its website, one of which was to be played in Adelaide.
It is unclear if the tournament will go ahead, although when the merger was announced in June Premier Peter Malinauskas said he did not expect Adelaide to lose hosting rights.
– AAP with Reuters
