Home/Golf

One year! Yes, it has been that long since the talks of the PGA Tour-PIF merger hit the news and left everyone flabbergasted. On June 6, 2023, the deal was announced and there has been little to no action on it ever since. While the fans and pros have been patiently waiting for its progress, the great white shark has something new in store for them, which is not about the merger exactly. Recently, Greg Norman talked to Bloomberg and revealed some pretty interesting things.

What does Greg Norman think about the future of Saudi-backed league?

In an interview with Bloomberg Television, the CEO of LIV Golf, Greg Norman dropped bombshells that may set the golf industry ablaze. He stated that the PIF might not be interested in funding the LIV Tour in the future.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

When asked how long he thinks the funding from the Saudis will last, Norman said, “You’re never gonna have an investor like our investor who’s been so passionate about the game of golf and what it’s done for his country internally and what he wants to on a global basis,” referring to the generous amount of money invested in the new tour by the Saudis.

via Reuters

Norman then acknowledged that the investors wanted to take the game of golf to a global level. “So billions of dollars have been invested, for having billions invested into a startup, I don’t know how many times that has happened around the world,” the Australian added, addressing the staggering $930 billion that gave birth to the LIV Golf and emphasizing that the Saudis might be the only one around the world to invest that kind of money into a startup.

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

According to Norman, the PIF chief Yasir Al-Rumayyan knows what he’s doing, and he actively believes in it. The PIF chief knows the value that LIV might have in the future. “He’s committed, he’s here to stay, he sees the value, he sees the future, the long-term value of what we have,” the LIV Golf CEO added.

Then came the kicker from Norman, “Look, like any investor maybe one day he’ll step back and say hey, it’s for sale, but right now nothing’s for sale.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Article continues below this ad

The statement in itself is quite a nightmare for the LIV Golfers, with the ongoing heat surrounding the LIV and PGA rivalry. But Norman insisted that the PIF chief trusts LIV with his billions of dollars of investment and will stand by it until the day he thinks otherwise. Therefore, the LIV Tour can thrive under the financial umbrella of the PIF investment.

So, while the merger talks refuse to come to an end, Norman’s views and his new statements can add new ruckus to the already topsy-turvy golf world. Stay tuned readers, because the ride is far from over!