LIV Chief Greg Norman Takes a Dig at PGA Tour by Bringing Back It’s Past: ‘No Different Than What We’re Doing Today’

Being the CEO of LIV Golf, Greg Norman has to endure a lot of obstacles to run his newly founded Tour. However, the biggest challenge for the Saudi-funded Tour so far has been to win the hearts of the golf world. While many criticized Norman for leading a nemesis of the PGA Tour, the Aussie took the example of golfing greats Jack Nicklaus and the late Arnold Palmer to defend himself.

Norman is currently in Mayakoba Mexico to start the second season of LIV Golf. However, a few days before his departure from the United States, the LIV Commissioner decided to go on a podcast to talk ill about the Tour in which he once flourished, the PGA Tour.

Greg Norman shows no mercy to the PGA Tour

Though the 68-year-old has always been open about his thoughts regarding his former Tour, the theme during his recent appearance at the People I (Mostly) Admire podcast was solely about his distress with PGA Tour. While many criticize Norman for starting LIV Golf, the Aussie had some words for such haters with an example of Palmer and Nicklaus.

“When you think back over time, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus and a few others broke away from the PGA of America to start the PGA Tour”, said the two-time Open Championship winner. In 1968, a dispute began between the PGA of America and its golfers for the lack of prize money.

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The top golfers at the time, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, began a rebellion against the PGA of America. The legendary golfing duo started their own Tour, the PGA Tour, after breaking away from the PGA of America. While Nicklaus and Palmer’s actions have been widely applauded by the golf world over the past 5 decades, the formulation of LIV Golf has been massively loathed by the same group of fans.

Norman questioned the fans before stating it’s the player’s choice of where they want to play. “No different than what we’re doing today”, said the Australian while comparing the LIV Golf situation to PGA Tour’s early 70s scenario. He further went on to defend his defectors at the podcast.

Norman fights for his LIV Golf stars

After recalling the infamous PGA dispute, the Australian Business tycoon then went on to defend the golfers who have been criticized for making the jump to the Saudi-funded Tour. “We’re getting additional pathways for players to go play”, said Greg Norman.

He further added, “They’re independent contractors, we’ve created probably some generational wealth for some of these players”. Norman ends by saying how the LIV Golf’s team franchise model is a new spectacle in golf that has never been done or even thought of before. Though many initially questioned the formulation of the lucrative Tour, some have gradually begun to like it.

Whether it’s the PGA Tour from 50 years ago or the commencement of LIV Golf last year, anything new in the sport will always be criticized in the early days. However, the stance of fans regarding the invention a few years down the line is what remains the ultimate quest for both Tours.

What are your thoughts on Greg Norman’s words about the PGA Tour? Let us know in the comment section below.

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