‘Really Pathetic’: Infamous for His Acrimonious Relationship With the PGA Tour, Greg Norman Slammed the Billion Dollar Organization Over a Controversial Moment in 2013

After the establishment of LIV Golf and its Invitational Series, its CEO Greg Norman has become the biggest rival of the PGA Tour. Notably, as a professional golfer, he was also part of the American organization for golf professionals before. Nonetheless, the Australian golfer was not in a good relationship with the Tour and its officials at the time as well. 

It was not a secret that Norman and the PGA Tour Commissioner at the time, Tom Finchem, didn’t have a friendly bond with each other. And it reflected when the former world no. 1 was not picked as the 2013 Presidents captain for Team Internationals. 

“It came as a big surprise to me,” Norman said when he faced the media after the officials named Zimbabwe’s Nick Price as Team captain instead of him. “…to get a phone call at late stages out of the blue from Tim (Finchem).” 

Greg Norman got disappointed after not being the Team Internationals captain at the 2013 Presidents Cup

Nicknamed ‘The Shark,’ Greg Norman was the captain of Team Internationals at the Presidents Cup in 2009 and 2011. Despite playing one on American soil and one in Australia, Team USA won against Norman’s team by a high margin.

The 2-time major champion led the team for two consecutive years. And the officials had him in mind to captain the team one more time in 2013. However, according to an article from abc.net.au, Norman revealed that Finchem revealed the news of selecting Price as captain through a phone call. “Let’s just say it’s disappointing,” the shark said. “Extremely disappointing.” 

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“I know that Rolex is a corporate partner of the PGA Tour,” he further added. Notably, after years of his deal with Rolex, Greg Norman decided to switch to Omega a bit before the 2013 Presidents Cup. And the 20-time PGA Tour champion revealed what he thinks of everyone speculating that as a reason for him not getting picked as the Presidents Cup captain. “If that’s right,” he continued, “then all I can say is that it’s really pathetic.” 

Did Team Internationals win after replacing ‘the Shark’ as captain in 2013?

The Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio, USA, hosted the 2013 edition of the Presidents Cup. Notably, according to its official website, the then-POTUS, Barack Obama, was the event Chairman. Even though Price took over the captaincy of Team Internationals, the host won the event with 18.5-15.5. 

When he was a professional golfer, Greg Norman has always been the pride of Australian golf. Hence, when he was replaced last moment as captain, the golfer couldn’t understand the reason. And lashed out at the officials during the media conference. 

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