Aussie golfing legend Greg Norman drove the biggest wedge of his career down the middle of world golf, but the Great White Shark has no regrets about his role in LIV Golf and the sport’s civil war.
The rebel LIV Golf tour was launched in 2021, backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
It was created to challenge the PGA Tour with a new format featuring shorter events, team-based competitions, and record-breaking prize money.
In October 2021, Greg Norman, a two-time major champion, was appointed CEO and Commissioner, leading the tour’s development and player recruitment.
The first official LIV Golf Invitational event took place in June 2022 at the Centurion Club in England, offering a $25million purse and attracting big names like Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson and Bryson DeChambeau.
With its 54-hole format, shotgun starts, and team competition structure, LIV Golf set itself apart from traditional tournaments but also sparked major controversy.
Greg Norman has defiantly said he has no regrests and that he was right to drive LIV Golf
The LIV Golf rebel tour changed the face of golf, bringing in huge, raucous crowds and a party environment
The PGA Tour and DP World Tour responded by banning players who defected, triggering legal battles over suspensions and player rights.
In October 2022, LIV Golf announced its evolution into the LIV Golf League for 2023, featuring 14 events with 12 permanent teams and captains.
The biggest twist came on June 6, 2023, when the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and Saudi Arabia’s PIF announced a proposed merger to unify the sport and end ongoing litigation.
Scott O’Neil replaced Greg Norman as LIV’s CEO in January 2024, following speculation that began after the proposed peace deal with the PGA Tour in 2023.
While efforts to finalise the merger continue, Norman has distanced himself from negotiations to focus on LIV’s independent growth
So now with the sport’s greatest civil war drawing to a close, Norman has three words to say as he prepares to exit LIV Golf – ‘We were right’.
‘I’m very, very proud of the fact that I opened the game of golf up,’ Norman told News Corp.
‘I’ve always believed golf should be a global sport and not controlled by one entity.
Norman has exited his role at LIV Golf with the rebel tour now in negotiations to merge with the PGA Tour
‘I would say that I’m most proud of the fact that I brought private equity into the game … and gave these young kids today – who are the captains and who are playing in the LIV League today – an opportunity to put another zero behind their bank account, which we never had.
‘Even though all this white noise and rhetoric that takes place between that side and this side, they’ll all sit back.
‘In the beginning, they all thought they were smart in what they were saying. And now they’re realising that, hey, we were right. And it’s going to take them a while to admit that.’
At the height of the controversy surrounding LIV Golf, Greg Norman was banned from the 2022 British Open by the R&A to avoid distractions.
The decision highlighted the deep divide between golf’s traditional institutions and LIV’s breakaway movement.
Norman, a two-time Open champion, called the move disappointing but remained defiant in his support for LIV Golf’s vision.
‘It all works out. You’ve just got to have the patience, you’ve got to have the business model, you’ve got to have the execution, and you’ve got to have the belief and the tolerance,’ the 69-year-old said.
‘I’ve taken a lot of bullets. I mean, to be honest with you, stuff I didn’t enjoy for three years. I still take a few bullets, but they’re from people who really have no idea what they’re talking about.’
‘I’m very happy to sit down with anybody any time to talk about what LIV represents to the game of golf, what LIV has done to the game of golf to this day, and where we are going.’
