You pour everything into something, let it become your identity, and then—boom—one day, you have to walk away. That’s life for you. And apparently, it’s also the way of LIV Golf. The 2025 season promises big changes for the league—Greg Norman will not be LIV’s CEO anymore. Rumors about his exit have been swirling since October, courtesy of Sports Business Journal, and now it’s official. 

Norman recently confirmed that he’ll be stepping down as the chief executive of LIV Golf. In an interview with Wish TV, Norman confirmed the reports: “Is there going to be a new CEO? Yes. There will be a new CEO. I’m fine with that. Will I always have a place and be involved with LIV to some capacity? Yes. I’ll always have that. Because the impact that has been created in the game of golf by LIV, I’ve had a small, small piece of that, which I’m proud of.” A clear-cut answer. LIV Golf’s agenda has always been to make golf louder and put the sport on the world map. They have been able to do that and have even fostered talents on the Asian Tour with its partnership.

While confirming the news of his departure, Norman also reflected on LIV’s rollercoaster journey-from being the league that everyone downright hated, to being accepted by the golfers and fans. Some might say that even TGL’s team concept is inspired by the Saudi-funded circuit. “So everywhere you look – In the first couple years, everybody was lambasting us,” he said. “And now all of a sudden, everybody’s trying to follow us. And I think everybody should take a step back and say, ‘Oh my gosh. How good has this been for the game of golf?’”

Back in 2022, when the Saudi-funded league was introduced, it was Norman who took the reins and steered it through turbulent waters. Sure, there were challenges (a ton of them), like bashing from fans, and players, competing against the PGA Tour, and whatnot but Norman’s efforts have been instrumental in building LIV Golf from scratch and turning it into what it is today. With his exit, you could call it the end of an era—albeit a very short one.

Under Norman’s leadership, LIV has had its fair share of wins and misses. The LIV Golf Adelaide event, for instance, was an absolute home run with packed crowds, a festival-like buzz, and a vibe that made golf feel like a rock concert. The second edition of the event was an even greater success, with fans absolutely cheering players on. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Struggles to nail down big TV deals and constant pushback from traditional golf fans and critics kept LIV from fully breaking through. 

Now with his departure, it won’t be “Norman’s circuit” anymore. As for who will step into his shoes? There is no official word yet, but last month’s Sports Business Journal report suggested Scott O’Neil, the former Philadelphia 76ers boss, might be the frontrunner. With all these changes, LIV’s 2025 season will be an exciting one. And for the fans? Let’s just say they aren’t exactly doing a happy dance about the news.

Fans pour in their emotions with Norman’s farewell

“Poor guy,” a fan quipped, sympathizing with Greg Norman’s exit from LIV Golf. While another commented, “Greg is the man. A LIV legend.” Another fan wrote, “I love Norman & totally respect his dedication & golfing achievements. But at the end of the day, the reality is LIV has only succeeded in making rich pro golfers even richer. Unfortunately it has not created a a united “World Tour” which has always been Norman’s dream from Day 1.” 

And it’s hard to argue—Norman’s tenure certainly changed the game. His vision of a global golf “World Tour” never quite took off in the way he imagined, but it’s clear the move to LIV has made golfers a lot richer. With big paydays, guaranteed contracts, and prize money, players who joined the league have seen financial benefits. As LIV golfer Marc Leishman put it, “Love him or hate him, as a golfer, he’s certainly helped our lifestyle” (via Golf Monthly).

One fan, though, shifted focus, writing, “I like Greg and will miss his efforts, but it’s that Phil Mickelson that needs to go.” Since Mickelson joined LIV, he hasn’t won, and some feel he hasn’t delivered on the big promises. Mickelson’s contract runs through 2026, and fans are starting to question whether his presence is more of a distraction than a boost for the league. It’s hard not to wonder if the attention would’ve been better spent on players who can still make waves, rather than on Mickelson’s lack of wins since joining.

And then, there was this reaction: “This makes me very mad. Monahan did this, and PIF stabbed Norman in the back.” Fans are pointing to the ongoing merger talks between PIF and the PGA Tour and speculating that Norman’s departure could speed up the process. With him out of the picture, some feel that the alliance may be closer than ever—though whether Norman’s exit is truly the catalyst remains to be seen. The dynamics of the merger are shifting, and this change may just push things forward faster than expected.

So, what’s next for the Shark—and for LIV? The debate goes on, but one thing’s for sure: the golf world will be keeping a close eye on what happens next. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!