Tiger Woods’ call for Greg Norman to step aside as LIV Golf boss in order for the breakaway league to peacefully co-exist with the PGA Tour looks set to come true.
Norman has been the man in charge of the LIV setup ever since it burst into the scene in 2021. After holding its first event a year later, the Saudi-backed league found itself at war with the PGA Tour, after the sport’s leading circuit opted to ban players competing on the LIV setup.
Early on in Norman’s rein tensions were at their highest, with men’s professional golf torn in two. Arguably the biggest name in the sport in Woods offered his view on potential peace further down the line two years ago, to which he called on Norman to step aside.
- Greg Norman makes his feelings clear as LIV Golf fate sealed and replacement lined up
- Martin Kaymer issues scathing message to Tour rivals after LIV Golf treatment
“Right now as it is, not right now, not with their leadership, not with Greg there and his animosity towards the Tour itself I don’t see that happening,” Woods claimed if he felt that the two rival tours could co-exist alongside each other at the back end of 2022.
“I think Greg’s got to leave and then we can eventually, hopefully, have a stay between the two lawsuits and figure something out. But why would you change anything if you’ve got a lawsuit against you? They sued us first.”
The lawsuits have now been dropped after the two sides announced a framework agreement last June.
Since then, PGA Tour chiefs – including Woods – have been locked in negotiations with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, but it is believed Norman has played no role in the talks. Whilst a deal is yet to be signed off, Woods’ demand for Norman to be taken away from top spot looks set to come true.
Follow us on Xfor the best and latest in sports news
Greg Norman will be replaced as CEO (
Getty Images)
Speaking this week, the former world No. 1 claimed reports of him being replaced as the league’s CEO are in fact true. “Is there going to be a new CEO? Yes. There will be a new CEO. I’m fine with that,” he told Wish TV. “Will I always have a place and be involved with LIV to some capacity? Yes.
“I’ll always have that. Because of 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… I’ve seen it come from a business model on paper to giving birth on the golf course to where it is today.”
Reports of Norman being stripped of his duty were initally revealed by Sports Business Journal last month, who have since claimed LIV bosses have already identified the man they would like the replace the Aussie boss. The report suggested they are on the looking to bring in Scott O’Neil,
O’Neil most recently led Merlin Entertainments, but his departure from the London-based company was confirmed in November.
Leave a Reply