via Reuters
Golf – The inaugural LIV Golf Invitational – Centurion Club, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Britain – June 8, 2022 Chief executive of LIV Golf Investments Greg Norman before the Pro-Am Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
via Reuters
Golf – The inaugural LIV Golf Invitational – Centurion Club, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Britain – June 8, 2022 Chief executive of LIV Golf Investments Greg Norman before the Pro-Am Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
The LIV Golf Invitational Series has been facing a lot of criticism since its inception due to its alliance with the Saudi Arabian government. In fact, the PGA and DP World Tours suspended their players after joining the league, mostly because of the same reason! And the LIV CEO and former world no.1 Greg Norman is not happy about it!
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“Why are they picking on the professional golfers,” Norman asked during a conversation with the famous American television host Tucker Carlson. He further added that everybody has a problem with the male professional golfers having business with the Saudi government. Meanwhile, female professional golfers have no such restrictions.
The LIV Golf CEO made a mistake on television!
“The LPGA Tour is sponsored by Aramco,” Norman said in the interview with Tucker Carlson of Fox News. “The largest sponsor of women’s golf in the world is Aramco,” he added. “Then no one word is being said about them.”
via Reuters
Golf – The inaugural LIV Golf Invitational – Centurion Club, Hemel Hempstead, St Albans, Britain – June 9, 2022 Chief executive of LIV Golf Investments Greg Norman during the first round Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Notably, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), sponsor of the LIV Series, is a sovereign wealth fund of the Saudi government. And Aramco is a state-owned Saudi Arabian oil company.
In the interview, Norman stated that Aramco is one of the biggest sponsors of the LPGA Tour. However, in reality, the Saudi oil company sponsors 6 of the Ladies European Tour events. Furthermore, Saudi sponsors three top female professional players from Europe.
Read more: A $54M Prize is Up For Grabs at LIV Golf Invitational Series
Instead of saying the Ladies European Tour, the LIV CEO mentioned the LPGA Tour as the beneficiary of the Saudi money. And it has become one of the biggest discussions in the golf world.
Fans on Twitter react to the remarks made by Greg Norman
The golf fans were offended when the LIV Golf CEO made a huge mistake on air. On the contrary, some believed that he intentionally made the said mistake so that he could sabotage the Tour. Furthermore, some even considered that he shouldn’t have compared women’s golf with men’s, as there is a lot of difference to it.
LIV players took bags of cash directly from the hands of the same people who handed the same bags full of the same cash to terrorists. They had a choice.
LPGA and LET players play on the only tour available and have little input on corporate sponsors.
— William Myers (@williamtmyers1) August 2, 2022
Because he doesn’t care if he gets it wrong. He’s on the “two wrongs make a right” campaign now, problem is he got one of his “wrongs” wrong. Smearing the LPGA with lies to justify his toy tour, he knows what he’s doing is wrong otherwise he wouldn’t be doing this.
— brian hancock (@officebrian) August 2, 2022
I never assumed, that he is very interested in womens´sports. And I actually think, LIV is targeting the worst part of our sport´s audience and they willl not care either.
— matthias kreuziger (@m_kreuziger) August 2, 2022
If you say something long enough people start to believe it is true..even if it isn’t.
— kevin curtis (@k_curt) August 2, 2022
More lies.
— Jane Crafter (@craftymate) August 2, 2022
On the other hand, some fans sided with the LIV CEO. They admitted that he made a mistake. However, they expressed positive opinions towards the Aussie and even defended him when others talked against him.
Aramco is a very big sponsor of the LET, which now has corporate ties with the LPGA. Norman overstated the case, but the women's pro tours are doing business with the Saudis.
— Dave Andrews (@PopsandSunshine) August 2, 2022
Lisa, how can you argue Aramco and the Saudi’s are not a major sponsor of LET and LPGA? And guess what? There’s nothing wrong with it! In fact it’s great for women’s golf!!! pic.twitter.com/qC9QEL4i89
— Trenters35🇨🇦⛳️🏒 (@trenters35) August 2, 2022
Greg overstated the case here. But Aramco has been putting bucks into LET and the LPGA.
I just wish they would keep to themselves.
— Dave Wilber (@TurfgrassZealot) August 2, 2022
LPGA and LET are a 50/50 joint venture now. Two halves of the same thing.
— The Gentleman’s Game (@GentsGamePod) August 2, 2022
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He's not wrong. Fact.
— Tim Schlabach (@schlabach_tim) August 2, 2022
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The fans had a difference in opinion with the news; while some agreed with Norman, the others didn’t. What do you think about Norman’s claims?
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