After Signing Him For a Reported $150 Million, Greg Norman Sends a Firm Message to the PGA Tour Using Cam Smith’s Example

LIV Golf’s fourth event has kicked off in Adelaide, with the most popular figures in golf competing for the title. One of the biggest names to join the Saudi-backed league, Aussie golfer, Cameron Smith, is also appearing in LIV Adelaide. The 29-year-old is captaining an all-Aussie side comprising Marc Leishman, Matt Jones, and Jediah Morgan.

Ahead of the event, LIV CEO Greg Norman and Cameron Smith addressed the media on Thursday. While shedding light on the future of the breakaway league and its players, Norman also took a firm stance on the LIV-PGA drama. The Australian entrepreneur strongly asserted that LIV Golf wasn’t “going to go anywhere” no matter the “road blocks.”

LIV CEO Greg Norman has a strong message for the PGA Tour

Last year, Greg Norman’s Saudi-backed LIV Golf stunned the status quo of professional golf and how. Since nabbing some of the most well-recognized golf stars, LIV and its rival PGA Tour have been stuck in a controversial legal dispute. The rivalry between the two factions became even more gripping during the 2023 Masters, which saw three LIV players finishing in the top-5.

Speaking to the media ahead of LIV Adelaide, Norman firmly stated that he was ready to thwart any obstacles from its rival tour. He also spoke highly of LIV’s future, citing the example of 2022 Open championship winner and LIV player Cam Smith.

“Cam Smith, the leader of the Rippers, his future is incredible, not only as an individual player but an owner of a team,” noted the LIV CEO. Earlier, the league had confirmed that most of its 12 teams have been registered as LLCs. As a result, they are now franchises within a league, and most captains own these franchises. Per reports, Cam Smith allegedly joined the league for a whopping $150 million and is currently captaining the Ripper GC. “Nobody is really focusing in on that, that we, LIV, identified that opportunity, and that’s the product. That’s the ability,” continued Norman.

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“PGA TOUR has got a great tour. We’re happy for them. I’m happy for them. I grew up on the PGA TOUR. So did Cam. We grew up playing on the European Tour,” said the retired pro-golfer. “I hope they exist and keep existing, but it’s their choice of what they want to do, and if they want to keep putting up road blocks, we’re not going to go anywhere.”

Norman’s comments were hardly a sign of truce, as he stated that LIV will continue to prosper with the help of investors. “We’ve got a great product. We’ve got investment dollars there today, investment dollars into the future that will continue to be there because of guys like this.”

LIV CEO Norman reveals his plans for the league’s future

Despite being a highly-decorated player in his own right, Greg Norman is a controversial figure in the world of golf. Last year, he received a lot of flak for luring top golfers to his Saudi-backed breakaway league. Since then, the 68-year-old has only pushed back at his detractors by revealing his plans for LIV Golf.

Speaking to NCA NewsWire, Norman claimed that many big names were ready to join his league. “It’s an ongoing process. We’ve got a long list of players who want to come in. It’s incredible the amount of players who want to come on board. It would surprise you how good those names are.”

While there is no occupancy for more golfers in the league yet, he claimed that there will be a time when “there will be a relegation series,” and more places will eventually start to open up.

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