Greg Norman’s time as LIV Golf CEO is coming to an end on August 31, just a week after the Team Championship wraps up in Michigan. But don’t expect the 69-year-old Aussie to ride off into the sunset just yet.
In his first interview since being replaced by Scott O’Neil, Norman made it clear he’s not ready for retirement. Instead, he’s setting his sights on an ambitious new goal: expanding his golf course portfolio from 124 to 250 courses.
“I’ll stay involved with LIV in some way, shape or form,” Norman told Australian Golf Digest. He’ll keep his seat on the board, though his role won’t be as hands-on as before.
The man known as “The Shark” isn’t shy about claiming his impact on golf. “When I look back on my past three-and-a-half years, oh my gosh, I really have changed the game of golf more than what people realize.”
Since LIV burst onto the scene in 2022, professional golf has seen some major shake-ups. New formats and initiatives have popped up everywhere – including TGL, the tech-heavy league backed by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
But don’t expect Norman to tune in to TGL anytime soon.
“No, I haven’t watched a bit of it because there’s a couple of players who’ve been very vocal against me,” he admitted. Still, he took the high road: “The more golf gets exposure in different ways, the better off it is.”
The tension between Norman and the Woods-McIlroy camp has been simmering since 2022. Both stars had previously called for Norman’s exit, with McIlroy saying LIV needed “an adult in the room” to mend fences.
Norman’s response? “I pay zero attention to McIlroy and Woods. They have their agenda for whatever reason.”
Just last week, McIlroy called Norman’s replacement “a good move” for LIV’s future. But Norman’s not backing down – he’s actually challenging Woods and McIlroy to a debate.
“I would love to sit down and talk to them,” Norman said. He’s convinced they’ve benefited from LIV’s presence, pointing to programs like the Player Impact Program that boosted Tiger’s earnings.
“I’d win the debate,” Norman declared confidently.
