After Paying Them a Combined $350 Million, Greg Norman Forgets Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson While Making an ‘Honest Confession’

Last year, Greg Norman set the ball rolling for LIV Golf by luring the likes of Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson to the Saudi-backed faction. Norman, whose last major victory came in 1993, paid a whopping $350 million sum for the two golfers. However, it took a certain player’s signing to make the Australian entrepreneur believe that it was “the best thing” that had happened to LIV.

Greg Norman reveals the biggest highlight for LIV Golf

The PGA-LIV rivalry kept golf fans entertained throughout the 2023 Masters. Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, and Patrick Reed performed exceptionally well at Augusta this year, shutting down LIV critics. However, it was the 29-year-old Cameron Smith whose signing excited LIV CEO Greg Norman the most.

Smith’s decision to join LIV in late 2022 pleasantly took aback Greg Norman. Norman revealed that he engaged with the Queensland native before Smith’s eventual decision. “We had a couple of conversations. And then when the time came, he was ready. He found the way down that path of the journey he wanted to do,” shared Norman per news.co.au.

The 68-year-old Norman’s comments revealed that it wasn’t the joining of the likes of multiple times Major winners Mickelson or Johnson that delighted him the most. Smith, who has only won one Major to date, made the LIV CEO significantly happier with his decision. Per reports, the Australian golfer signed him for a whopping sum of $140 million. “When he came on board. It was like ‘oh my gosh’, the best thing that happened to us, to be honest with you,” said Norman.

Also Read: Days Ahead of LIV Golf’s Adelaide Event, Cameron Smith Urges More Events in Australia In His Latest Comments

Norman’s intent to lure Smith into the LIV faction proved to be favorable in no time. Smith made a graceful start to his LIV career by winning his second event held in Chicago in September. In fact, the 29-year-old is currently the highest-ranked LIV player on Official World Golf Rankings at No. 5. With just a week away from the first Australian LIV golf event, the Adelaide crowd will witness Smith leading the Ripper GC as the team captain.

Ahead of the Masters, many questions were raised regarding the eventual fate of LIV Golf. How did that span out?

How did LIV Golf fare at the Masters?

The LIV Golf Tour was well-represented by 18 golfers, some of whom stole the show at the Masters. The four-time Major winner Brooks Koepka was edged out by Jon Rahm, resulting in a T2 finish for the golfer. However, Koepka’s return to form has definitely shut down his detractors, and how.

Fans of LIV golfer Phil Mickelson were jubilant, as the 52-year-old’s smashing form helped him tie at T2 with Koepka. Both the golfers walked away with $1,584,000 each in earnings. Meanwhile, 2018 Masters winner and LIV golfer Patrick Reed finished at T4, earning $744,000. Smith, however, was not as successful as his fellow compatriots. The 29-year-old finished at T34, winning $97,200.

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