Aussie golf legend and LIV CEO Greg Norman breaks silence over shock sacking: 'I'm fine with that'
- Greg Norman has led the Saudi-backed LIV Golf tour since it's inception in 2021
- Former World No 1 has been one of the most divisive figure's in golf's civil war
- The Great White Shark confirmed that he is to be replaced as CEO of the tour
Greg Norman has confirmed he will be replaced as the chief executive of LIV Golf, bringing an end to his controversial tenure at the head of the rebel league.
The Australian has been a hugely divisive figure since the breakaway circuit formed in 2021 and his future has been in question at a time when merger talks between LIV’s Saudi backers and the PGA Tour are ongoing.
With former Alton Towers and Legoland boss Scot O’Neil due to take his place, Norman will stay on with LIV in an as-yet-undefined role. He is under contract for another year.
Norman, speaking in an interview in the US with Indiana news TV station WISH-TV, said: ‘I’ve seen [LIV] come from a business model on paper to giving birth on the golf course to where it is today.
'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.’
LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman has revealed the controversial league will soon have a new leader
The former World No 1 has been one of the most divisive figures in golf's civil war
Norman’s departure will be greeted warmly by one side of golf’s civil war - in November 2022, Rory McIlroy called for him to exit ‘stage left’ so the ‘adults’ could negotiate a peace agreement.
In theory, the 69-year-old’s reduced standing could assist those talks, which have dragged on for 18 months without a final resolution.
Tiger Woods, who has been involved in the negotiations, admitted his frustration with the lack of progress last week, but said: ‘I think something will get done. In what form or shape, I don’t know yet.’
The intrigue is where the DP World Tour fit into the picture. As strategic partners of the PGA Tour, they are part of the current merger process, but are understood to have held talks of their own with the Saudi Public Investment Fund about a deal that could enable a collaboration with LIV on a worldwide circuit, in the event that existing discussions collapse.
