According to sports columnist Greg Baum at WAToday.com, Greg Norman’s involvement in the merger of LIV Golf with the PGA Tour was not as significant as he had anticipated. Baum suggests that Norman was used as a drawcard for LIV Golf and as a source of contention against the PGA Tour by the Saudis, who hired him for both roles. With the Saudis successfully negotiating a “merger” and a group of top golfers supporting them, the PGA Tour found itself hesitant to pursue legal action. However, Norman was excluded from the negotiations, informed only minutes before the announcement, and was not mentioned in the official statement. Since then, he has been conspicuously absent as LIV’s frontman, making himself irrelevant.
Baum believes that regardless of the new landscape that emerges, there won’t be a place for Norman. Throughout his career, he has been at odds with the PGA Tour, even proposing a breakaway in his playing days, which ultimately failed due to a lack of financial backing. In recent conflicts, Norman has made controversial remarks about players such as Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, causing tension within the golf community. His past actions and clashes make it unlikely for him to reconcile with the PGA Tour, even if he desired to do so. Davis Love III, an American hall-of-famer and Ryder Cup captain, remarked that Norman’s focus is on owning the game rather than advancing it or giving back.
Norman’s standing and popularity have diminished over time, both among his fellow professionals and the general public. Golf Australia even considered removing his name from their annual medal. However, despite being a pariah, Norman represents the current state of sports, where money takes precedence over athletic excellence. Sports have become a platform for billionaires, millionaires, and corporate interests. Soccer, cricket, tennis, and now golf have all been influenced by wealthy investors and conglomerates. The Olympics have been privately owned since 1996, and Norman’s involvement with Saudi Arabia indicates that golf is heading down a similar path.
This shift in the sports industry poses challenges for Golf Australia, as it compromises their efforts to make golf an inclusive sport. While the prospect of a prestigious US Tour event in Australia is exciting, the ongoing disputes between loyalists and rebels over resources and influence undermine Golf Australia’s campaign. Despite its growth and popularity, the world of sports has become akin to a great white shark, constantly moving forward to survive.
