Missteps and Mismanagement Galore; Should Greg Norman Call It a Day?

Three years at the helm, and Greg Norman is flooded with ‘requests’. Jon Rahm would prefer that LIV have 72 holes. Cameron Smith suggested that LIV could cut down on the US schedule and instead move to other parts of the globe with home bases for each team. Smith’s idea was more aligned with how team sports function. Norman said PIF is open to suggestions. If LIV moves to 72 holes, what happens to its name is anyone’s guess.

Norman, while withdrawing the world ranking bid, said that his team is separately in talks with major governing bodies. Yet, Fred Ridley’s clarification of a ‘closed shop’ LIV blew that. Ironically, all four major organizers were part of the OWGR board that rejected Norman’s demands. Adelaide’s success has pushed them into the backseat for a while. But the recent championship course choice once again highlighted Norman’s multiple missteps. 

Norman is still the most divisive figure in golf

Greg Norman said that everyone he met at Augusta National was fond of LIV Golf. Even a security guard apparently thanked him for what he did. Apparently, he was tagging Rory McIlroy’s group. According to some reports, The Shark was also on the practice greens.

Regardless of how the public consensus reached his ears, Fred Ridley and the Augusta governing body weren’t impressed. There was no invitation for the LIV CEO. Rather, the Great White Shark had to buy his way in.

Last year too, Norman didn’t receive an invitation after calling for a group celebration on the 18th if any LIV Golfer earned the green jacket. And, from what it looks like the Australian might have to buy his tickets to another major. 

Many suspected the former Open Champion would follow a similar path to Royal Troon. Norman hasn’t divulged any plans for that, but even if he has intentions to do so, he needs to find tickets on the resale platform. “I don’t think there’s a ‘G Norman’ [on the list]. I think they would have let me know if there was. So, I’m not aware that he’s bought a ticket so far.” Bunkered quoted Mike Woodcock, director of Corporate Communications of the R&A.

Of course, Norman was asked not to attend two years ago. But now both the DP World Tour and the PGA Tour are working with PIF to finalize a $3 billion merger deal. Yet Norman is someone whose acceptance hasn’t grown among the spheres of power. Perhaps The Shark never bothered about it as a player, then as a businessman. But for the LIV Golf CEO, it matters a bit more, and PIF officials seem to understand that.

Greg Norman has been absent from merger talks

Reportedly, Greg Norman and Rory McIlroy were in the same position on June 6. In that regard, none of them had any clue about what Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Jay Monahan were going to announce on morning television. The difference was that McIlroy was a player-director, and Greg Norman was the CEO of the entity that was going to form an alliance with its sworn enemy. 

Norman has been conspicuously absent during the negotiation as well. The Aussie wasn’t present when PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan traveled to the Bahamas for a meeting with the player directors of the PGA Tour. Word is Jay Monahan, and even SSG members, have sidestepped the LIV CEO to directly communicate with the PIF governor. 

Previously, both Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy demanded Norman’s ouster before moving ahead with the talks. In fact, Rory McIlroy, as recently as last month, remarked that Norman had done a disservice to Yasir Al Rumayyan’s vision. And, it seems, PIF officials, knowing the sentiment, have kept the former world No. 1 on a different plane. 

Gambling with venues was baffling, to say the least

Norman seems to have lost a chunk of vocal supporters after picking Bolingbrook as the venue for the team championship. From the first look, PIF officials need to spend some bucks to make the championship ready first.

The Illinois course also has an island green, like TPC Sawgrass. Which, of course, gave rise to calls for ripoff. Because the watering hole at the Grange was modeled on the 16th at TPC Scottsdale, nevertheless, what’s more baffling is that Rich Harvest Farms has decided to pull the plug this year and not the other way around. 

You might not have heard of the course sitting 30 minutes from Chicago because there isn’t much to speak of. The island’s green barley compares to the Sawgrass. It’s a bet that Norman took. If Bolingbrook becomes a massive success, there is no question of who will take the credit for recognizing a hidden gem. However, if it fails, Norman’s head might be on the chopping board!