DORAL, Fla. — Speaking publicly for the first time in months, LIV Golf CEO and Commissioner Greg Norman radiated confidence and expressed no concerns about the future of LIV Golf or his own fate professional.
In a session with a small group of journalists including Yahoo Sports, Norman covered a wide range of topics, from LIV’s upcoming schedule to the financial value and stability of the 12 breakaway tour franchises to the proposed of value for future LIV players. LIV’s 2023 season ends this weekend
LIV Golf is in an in-between position: too old to be a startup, too young to be a historic league. Although it has struggled to attract viewers, it continues to serve as home to many of the best golfers on the planet, and it is backed by unlimited billions from the Saudi Public Investment Fund.
The Saudi connection alone is enough to disqualify LIV as a viable company in the minds of its many detractors. However, recent successes on the ground – particularly a raucous weekend in Adelaide, Australia – only reinforce Norman’s belief that LIV is uniquely prepared for international growth.
“Everywhere we go, we increase value, we increase value, we increase value,” Norman said. “It’s different than in the United States, isn’t it?” Where you’re just US-centric. That’s the beauty of what LIV is.
To meet this perceived need, LIV is revising its calendar for 2024, planning eight international and six domestic events. LIV officials have not yet released the schedule, but hope to do so soon.
Norman emphasized that it is not part of the framework agreement that the PIF and PGA Tour are working to enact by the end of the year. Tour officials indicated in congressional testimony earlier this year that a condition of the deal was that Norman be removed from his position, but Norman rejected that idea.
“I’ve never been afraid of anyone saying anything, or any animosity against me, or anything like that, because the business model works,” Norman said. “If anyone will sit down and understand this business model and see it for what it really is, then they will understand the reason why we are in the position we are in today.”
Norman reiterated that he has “zero” concerns about LIV’s future. Additionally, he claimed that he continues to receive requests from players interested in joining LIV – repeating what Phil had said. Mickelson and Bubba Watson said it earlier this week.
“Personally, I talk to a lot of players who are interested in joining LIV,” Norman said. “They know there’s an opportunity to come with LIV, they didn’t have the opportunity early on… Our players are doing a great job of articulating exactly how great our platform is and how great it is. fun here. We therefore receive a lot of expressions of interest from individuals.
Norman has already made grandiose claims about the scope and stability of LIV. However, the league is finishing its second year and – by all public statements – appears on track for a busy offseason and a third season that begins in early 2024.
“LIV is in a very, very strong and great position,” Norman said. The season concludes this weekend with a series of team play events and will return next spring at an as-yet-unnamed location and date.
