As LIV Golf Gears Up for the Third Season, Has Greg Norman Turned His Back on His Savior?

Very few enjoy a round of golf like Donald Trump does. And very few were more pleased with LIV Golf’s emergence than the former president. Trump almost took the nascent league under his wing by providing venues to the ostracized league and, in turn, avenues to American audiences’ hearts. Although LIV Golf has struggled to capitalize on that, courtesy of its non-traditional format, Trump’s courses have remained a steady venue for the Greg Norman-fronted league.

Heading into its third season, is LIV Golf keeping the former President at arm’s length? That question bubbled around in the golf world when LIV Golf released its 2024 schedule. The calendar was half-baked, and some venues were yet to be finalized, thanks to Brooks Koepka. However, the PIF-funded course showed 14 stops across the globe in six countries, but there was no course owned by Donald Trump.

Last year, there were three Trump-owned courses on LIV Golf’s schedule, making it five in the first two years of the Saudi-backed league. However, the PIF officials are yet to confirm whether LIV will return to any courses owned by Donald Trump. Are they being cautious about mingling with the former president?

Is LIV Golf giving cold shoulders to the former POTUS?

Aside from their deep personal ties, one more similarity between the ex-president and the PIF-funded league is that both have been mired in controversies. Recently, a Colorado court, citing the 14th Amendment, barred him from holding office again because of his alleged connection with the January 6 riots. Trump admitted that political controversies have affected his business with the Saudi-funded league. “They love the courses, but I think they probably consider me a little bit controversial right now,” The New York Times quoted him as saying a few months ago.

Reportedly, the 2022 Bedminster event boasted more Trump supporters than LIV Golf fans. The loudest cheer was reserved for the former POTUS rather than Brooks Koepka, Dustin Johnson, or even Phil Mickelson. On top of that, as per reports, one of the slew of subpoenas to the former President was also related to the nature of business transactions with LIV Golf. So, when the initial LIV Golf schedule was released, many thought that the renegade circuit was trying to distance itself from the controversies as it aspired to be taken more seriously and was hoping to reach a merger agreement with the PGA Tour.

However, the preliminary list released by LIV Golf had three open spots for a Trump venue to slip in. The first was the April 5-7 tournament. The venue for the event, just a week before the Masters, was not specified.

The next in line were the last two tournaments: the LIV Golf Individual Championship and the season championship. The first of the two was held in Jeddah this year, despite the initial plan of hosting it in Trump Doral. Trump’s course eventually got to host the season-ending championship this year.

Although LIV Golf has yet to offer any clarity, Trump took to Truth Social to confirm that LIV Golf will indeed return to his courses next year. The 77-year-old updated his fans that Trump National Doral will host a LIV event in April. Notably, the event location is marked in the USA on the official calendar as well.

Norman, too, when quizzed about LIV Golf moving away from Trump’s courses, said there are some events still left. So, if LIV Golf selects another Trump-owned course for the remaining two tournaments, it won’t be surprising. Trump’s relationship with both Greg Norman and his employer goes back in time.

Trump’s ties with PIF and Greg Norman

Trump’s ties with both PIF and the man who is overseeing their golf empire precede LIV Golf’s emergence. After Trump became president, Saudi Arabia was the first country he visited for diplomatic purposes and signed a $110 billion arms deal. So, when LIV Golf was looking for venues, Trump-owned courses became their go-to. But Trump, too, was looking for financial gain.

Read More: ‘The Swing Is Ugly’: The Golf World Splits Into Two as Former President Donald Trump’s Polarizing Golfing Swing Resurfaces

The PGA of America cutting ties with Trump after the Capitol Hills riots was a huge blow to the latter considering that Trump National Golf Club was slated to host the 2022 PGA Championship. Similarly, R&A turned away from Trump-owned Turnberry when the Open Championship used to be hosted at one point. So, LIV Golf provides the raft for Donald Trump to float in the water during turbulent times.

Moreover, Greg Norman and Trump’s acquaintances date back decades. Back in 2003, Trump vouched for the Great White Shark in a Golf Digest profile. Trump claimed everyone was jealous of his achievements, both on and off the course. Furthermore, Trump praised his business acumen.

It should be noted that back in the 1990s, the former World No. 1 touted the idea of a World Golf Tour with stops in the USA, Canada, Scotland, Japan, and Spain. However, at that time, the PGA Tour rejected the idea outright then and there.

Interestingly, as PIF and PGAT inch closer to the merger, whether the merger agreement will change either side’s stance is an open question. But the return of the LIV Golf to his signature courses is sure to be a shot in the arm for the former president.

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