News
Report claims that Greg Norman is set to be dropped by Saudi-backed LIV Golf
Greg Norman has had a headline making year, with the Australian spearheading the controversial Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series and even attempting, and failing, to get a special exemption to compete in the 2022 Open Championship.
The two-time major winner has most recently received a barrage of criticism for comments where he seemingly attempted to play down the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi – who was was killed by Saudi agents in Istanbul in 2018.
Speaking at a LIV Golf press conference last week, Norman stated:
“From what I heard and what you guys reported just take ownership of what it is. Take ownership no matter what it is. Look, we’ve all made mistakes, and you just want to learn from those mistakes and how you can correct them going forward.”
Those comments were slammed by many, including Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée Hatice Cengiz, who branded the 67-year-old’s words as “so hurtful” in response.
Now, the Australian’s chaotic tenure as the frontman for LIV Golf may well be coming to an end, according to a report from the man who blew the whistle on Phil Mickelson’s bombshell Saudi comments that sent the 2021 PGA Champ into an ongoing exile.
Alan Shipnuck, whose unauthorised biography on Mickelson is released this week, has claimed that a Tour agent has told him that Norman’s days are numbered with the Saudi-backed group.
In a recent Q&A on The Fire Pit Collective, Shipnuck made the claim, while musing that the potential departure of Norman may well have factored into Mickelson’s decision to pass on defending his title this week at Southern Hills:
“A prominent Tour agent recently confided that he is hearing Norman is on the outs with the Saudis, which would be another wild development in this saga.
If a leadership change is imminent with LIV Golf, that would be all the more reason for Mickelson to pass on the PGA Championship and take more time to assess a chaotic situation.”
In a separate piece on The Fire Pit Collection, Michael Bamberger revealed that Jack Nicklaus had been targeted to undertake the role that Norman has been doing, but that the Golden Bear twice turned down the lucrative offer:
“I was offered something in excess of $100 million by the Saudis, to do the job probably similar to the one that Greg is doing,” Nicklaus said per the article. “I turned it down. Once verbally, once in writing. I said ‘Guys, I have to stay with the PGA Tour. I helped start the PGA Tour.'”
The opening event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series is scheduled to take place at Centurion, near London, next month. It remains to be seen if Norman will still be in charge by then.
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News
Morning 9: Tiger confirms playing schedule | Player: This caused Tiger’s downfall
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Tour Photo Galleries
Photos from the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
GolfWRX is on site this week in McKinney, Texas, at the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson (FKA the AT&T Byron Nelson).
Last year at TPC Craig Ranch, Jason Day ended a five-year winless streak. J-Day is in the field again, as are Jordan Spieth, Tom Kim, and Will Zalatoris.
We have our usual assortment of general galleries, WITBs, and pullout albums for your perusal. As always, we’ll continue to add links to additional albums as they make their way to us from the Lone Star State.
Check out links to all our photos below.
General Albums
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Monday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #1
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #2
- 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson – Tuesday #3
WITB Albums
- Pierceson Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kris Kim – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- David Nyfjall – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Adrien Dumont de Chassart – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Jarred Jetter – North Texas PGA Section Champ – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Richy Werenski – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Wesley Bryan – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Parker Coody – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Peter Kuest – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Blaine Hale, Jr. – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Kelly Kraft – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Rico Hoey – WITB – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
Pullout Albums
- Adam Scott’s 2 new custom L.A.B. Golf putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Scotty Cameron putters – 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson
- Ben Griffin playing Maxfli golf ball
See what GolfWRXers are saying in the forums.
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News
Vincenzi’s 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson betting preview: International talent to shine
As anticipation mounts for the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla in a few weeks, the PGA Tour makes a pit stop in McKinney, Texas to play The CJ CUP Byron Nelson.
Last year was the third time TPC Craig Ranch hosted the Byron Nelson. Prior to 2021, the event was held at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas.
TPC Craig Ranch is a 7,414-yard par-71 that features Bentgrass greens. The event historically plays relatively easy, and that has remained the case in the three editions at TPC Craig Ranch.
The course structure may provide some additional intrigue with the par-3 17th featuring a stadium setup called “Ranch 17” which is reminiscent of the 16th hole at TPC Scottsdale. The course also has both long and difficult par-4s mixed with drivable par-4s, which should create some exciting moments.
There are 156 golfers in the field this week, and many stars will be taking the week off to prepare for 2023’s second major championship in a few weeks and a “signature event” at Quail Hollow next week. Notable players in the field include Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Sungjae Im, Stephan Jaeger, Tom Kim, Si Woo Kim, Min Woo Lee, Alex Noren, Adam Scott and Will Zalatoris.
Past Winners of the AT&T Byron Nelson
- 2023: Jason Day (-23 at TPC Craig Ranch)
- 2022: K.H. Lee (-26 at TPC Craig Ranch)
- 2021: K.H. Lee (-25 at TPC Craig Ranch)
- 2019: Sung Kang (-23)
- 2018: Aaron Wise (-23)
- 2017: Billy Horschel (-12)
- 2016: Sergio Garcia (-15)
- 2015: Steven Bowditch (-18)
Key Stats at TPC Craig Ranch
Let’s take a look at five key metrics for TPC Craig Ranch to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds.
Strokes Gained: Approach
Strokes Gained: Approach remains the best measure of current form.
Hot iron play will be at a premium this week. Last year, Jason Day gained 6.4 strokes on approach, which was fourth in the field. In 2022, K.H. Lee was ninth in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, gaining 5.2 strokes. In his 2021 victory, he was second in the field and gained 8.3 strokes on the field in the category.
Strokes Gaines: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds
- Tom Hoge (+1.12)
- Keith Mitchell (+1.02)
- Henrik Norlander (+0.99)
- Ryan Moore (+0.98)
- Ben Martin (0.80)
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee
Fairways are wide at TPC Craig Ranch.
Distance will certainly be helpful, and there aren’t too many difficult holes on the course. Golfers who put themselves in position off of the tee this week should have a sizable advantage.
Strokes Gained: Off the Tee Over Past 24 Rounds
- Peter Kuest (+0.93)
- Kevin Daugherty (+0.91)
- Alejandro Tosti (+0.83)
- Keith Mitchell (+0.82)
- Kevin Tway (+0.74)
Birdie or Better %
There aren’t many hazards on the course, and all of the par-5s should be reachable in two for the majority of the players in the field. I am anticipating a birdie fest, and this statistic should be helpful in finding the birdie-makers.
Birdie or Better % Over Past 24 Rounds:
- Wesley Bryan (31%)
- Kelly Kraft (26.2%)
- Peter Kuest (25.9%)
- Matti Schmid (25.7%
- Jimmy Stanger (25.2%)
Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass)
Many golfers on TOUR have some major putting surface variance in their statistics and prefer Bentgrass to other surfaces.
Bentgrass is common in Texas, and we often see golfers who play well in Texas continue to do so, finding a great feel around the greens.
Strokes Gained: Putting (Bentgrass) Over Past 24 Rounds:
- Maverick McNealy (+0.92)
- Aaron Baddeley (+0.87)
- Callum Tarren (+0.86)
- Harry Hall (+0.81)
- Nick Hardy (+0.69)
Course History
This statistic will tell us which players have performed the best at TPC Craig Ranch over the past three seasons.
Course History Over Past 12 Rounds:
- Jordan Spieth (+2.69)
- K.H. Lee (+2.59)
- Seamus Power (+1.84)
- Ryan Palmer (+1.76)
- Adam Scott (+1.72)
CJ CUP Byron Nelson Model Rankings
Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), SG: OTT (24%), Birdie or Better % (18%), Course History (17%) and SG: Putting Bentgrass (16%).
- Alex Noren
- Adam Scott
- Keith Mitchell
- Si Woo Kim
- Stephen Jaeger
- Jordan Spieth
- Jhonnatan Vegas
- Nate Lashley
- Brice Garnett
- Tom Hoge
2024 CJ CUP Byron Nelson Picks
Byeong Hun An +3000 (DraftKings)
Byeong Hun put together an excellent performance at The Masters, finishing T16, which ties his best ever finish at a major championship (also T16 at 2019 U.S. Open). The South Korean gained 9.16 strokes from tee to green, which ranked 2nd in the field behind only the champion, Scottie Scheffler.
An’s next start at Harbour Town didn’t go as well (67th), but he still had a fantastic ball striking week. The 32-year-old bled strokes both around and on the greens, which was his eventual undoing. In his past three starts, An has gained significant strokes on the field both off the tee and on approach.
Benny had a strong start at last year’s Byron Nelson, finishing in a tie for 14th. With limited challenges on the course, he shouldn’t have to do much scrambling. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 17th in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 17th in the field in birdie or better percentage. The putter is up and down per usual, but his ceiling putting weeks with his LAB Golf putter in 2024 are higher than they’ve been in past seasons.
An is starting to become my “white whale” of the PGA Tour, but I believe in his talent and TPC Craig Ranch is a course that should suit his excellent tee to green play.
Mackenzie Hughes +5500 (FanDuel)
Mackenzie Hughes is quietly putting together a very good season. He finished in a tie for 3rd at the Valspar Championship and followed that up with a T14 at the Texas Children’s Houston Open.
In his past 36 rounds in Texas, the Canadian ranks 5th in the field in Strokes Gained: Total. Last year, he finished in a tie for 14th at this event and gained strokes putting and off the tee. Mackenzie played well that week despite being in extremely poor form. He missed two cuts in a row prior to the event, and four consecutive cuts immediately after. His irons were off that week, but in 2024, we’ve seen an improvement in Hughes’ approach game. He now comes to the event playing some steady golf. He’s gained strokes on approach in four of his past five events and is hitting the ball very well from tee to green.
Hughes has two victories on the PGA Tour, both coming in relatively low-scoring affairs (-17 in each). He will need to go a bit deeper to win the CJ Cup Byron Nelson but has the type of putter that can keep pace in a birdie barrage.
Seamus Power +7000 (FanDuel)
After struggling over the past few seasons with injuries, Seamus Power seems as if he is rounding back into the form that made him a really consistent player on the PGA Tour.
Power finished T12 in his most recent start at the RBC Heritage, which is encouraging considering it was a “signature event” with a very strong field. For the week, the Irishman gained 4.4 strokes on approach and 2.8 strokes putting, which is the combination he’s used in the past to contend on Tour.
In his three trips to TPC Craig Ranch, Power is yet to finish outside of the top-20, with his best finish being a T9 in 2019. He ranks 4th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course. The 37-year-old thrives on easy tracks and has won in 2021 (Barbasol Championship) and 2022 (Butterfield Bermuda) on easier layouts with weaker fields.
Power has the game to go extremely low and I believe he can get back in the winner’s circle for the third time in four years.
Chan Kim +10000 (FanDuel)
Chan Kim has been striking the ball beautifully this season and is a proven winner with two wins on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2023 as well as eight career Japan Tour wins.
At last week’s Zurich Classic, Kim and his partner Doug Ghim finished in a tie for 28th. Prior to that, the South Korean T14 at the Valero Texas Open and T6 at the Corales Puntacana Championship. His success this season in Texas as well as he propensity to play his best golf on the PGA Tour’s easier courses make him and ideal fit for TPC Craig Ranch.
2024 has given plenty of longshot winners on the PGA Tour, and with a birdie fest like this, I believe there’s a strong chance we get another this week in McKinney, Texas.
Alejandro Tosti +10000 (FanDuel)
Alejandro Tosti is one of the most polarizing players on the PGA Tour thus far in the 2024 season. His antics can rub many the wrong way, but he’s shown on a few occasions that he has what it takes to compete in Tour events.
This season, Tosti has been elite off the tee. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 2nd in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. The Argentine hits it long and straight, which works at any course on earth. He got a taste of contention a few starts ago at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, finishing in a tie for 2nd place.
Tosti had a fantastic year in 2023 on the Korn Ferry Tour, where going low is a prerequisite to success. If this turns to a shootout, which it likely will, the 27-year-old has the ability to set the pace. Tosti will look to become the second Argentine to win in Texas in the past two seasons after Emiliano Grillo emerged victorious at last year’s Charles Schwab Challenge.
C.T. Pan +15000 (FanDuel)
Outside of a T3 at the Mexico Open, C.T. Pan doesn’t have strong results this season in terms of finishes. However, over his past two starts, Pan’s iron play has come alive. At The Players, he gained 6.6 strokes on approach. At the Valero Texas Open, he gained 3.7. At last week’s Zurich Classic, Pan and his partner Kevin Yu finished T28. For a player who can get extremely hot with his scoring clubs, I believe he’s playing better than the results have shown over the past month or so.
Last season, Pan finished 4th at TPC Craig Ranch and was spectacular across all the major stat categories. In his past 36 qualifying rounds, he ranks 16th in Strokes Gained: Total in Texas.
Pan has won on the PGA Tour at the RBC Heritage and is always a player that I believe has what it takes to win on a Sunday if he finds himself in contention.
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geohogan
May 18, 2022 at 4:30 pm
Jack Nicklaus once again demonstrates why he is the G.O.A.T.
Most majors, most runnerups in majors and character to back it up.
JP
May 18, 2022 at 5:15 pm
But he’s been working for the Saudis……
JoAnn
Aug 4, 2022 at 2:02 pm
Greg Norman thinks he’s King of LIV.
He’s a A##hole. NOT letting in Daly, and I’m done buying anything that has the SHARK on it !!!
benseattle
May 18, 2022 at 3:15 pm
If true, good riddance. For some thirty years, Greg Norman has preened before the world….all the while continuing to harbor a seething grudge against the PGA Tour. His seedy association with the Saudi fund isn’t designed to “grow the game” but is, instead, a vehicle intending to use massive Middle East oil money to lure clueless and/or naïve and/or uncaring golfers whose main concern is not about history but Cash Only. And, to be sure, they’ll get a few. Poaching PGA Tour players to compete in LIV Golf events will only serve to weaken the U.S. tournaments so why would commissioner Jay Monahan give them free rein to go and then come back? NOBODY is stopping any golfer to join the LIV tour but the bylaws — that they agreed to — stipulate that the door only swings one way. And while on the subject, what about the dozens of charities that could be devastated if LIV Golf is successful in siphoning off top players? Norman’s backers have no charity component; it’s all about stuffing dollars bills into the pockets of athletes with the sole intention of using sport as a cover for their various human rights abuses. You thought Norman’s 1996 Masters was bad? How about the humiliation if he’s deemed too toxic for the Saudi regime?
geohogan
May 20, 2022 at 3:12 pm
Narcissist Norman, was the “bait and switch” front man for MBS.
Tom Kay
May 18, 2022 at 1:16 pm
Greg has always been wound up tight. Ego is not your amigo.
Mrgeek33
May 18, 2022 at 11:07 am
I don’t care how much money they throw at it… I give it a year and it’ll be gone. Just like pretty much every other league that tries to compete with the Major leagues. XFL type of thing. There’s just not enough competition especially when you only have 16 of the top 100 players. Most of whom are washed up or at the end of their careers. Who wants to watch that?
Dave
May 18, 2022 at 9:28 am
Greg Norman, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, and Phil Mickelson are scum. Bunch of racist, disgusting fools who have no place in golf. The PGA has to remove these idiots from all the history books and venues.
Such a dark day for the PGA to have these racist disgusting old pieces of garbage as part of their history.
I hope all countries ban them from playing in any tournament.
geohogan
May 24, 2022 at 11:24 am
Next slave owner George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.
America was build by genocide (50+ million indigenous people of Western hemisphere) and slavery. Understand you would want to selectively erase history.
Thomas Woodward
Jul 27, 2022 at 8:39 pm
WOW Dave, you’ve really flew off the handle with those statements. Are you an indoctro-procto syndrome suffer and mom and dad are going to banish you from the basement, or did you just find out ANTIFA is not going to give you a field commander position so you can quite your fry-cook job at Mc D’s? Either way, YOU GOT problems between the ears…
Michael
May 18, 2022 at 9:19 am
What goes around comes around. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
The boy king and his cohorts are getting what they deserve – embarrassment and ridicule – for hiring a clown with an ego bigger than their oil output.
I wonder if Bin Salaman or whatever the correct spelling is, will have someone whacked like they did with Kashoggi’s killers in order to try and have plausible denial for his screw up. Yet another one in a long line since this guy convinced the King tomato him the heir and CEO
White Hall
May 18, 2022 at 12:12 am
LIV it up homeboy!
Chismgism
May 17, 2022 at 9:32 pm
Gas shortage, baby formula shortage, food shortage… all caused by a leadership shortage. High prices, high taxes, high crime, high world tensions… all caused by His highness lyin Joe Biden.
geohogan
May 20, 2022 at 3:16 pm
dont forget covid 19, climate change, melting arctic, full moon,
monkey pox and your dogs itchy balls
Bob
May 17, 2022 at 5:56 pm
I heard Gary Player is an easy sellout who will do it for 50 million.
John mac
May 17, 2022 at 4:37 pm
But somehow, it,s ok to send billions of dollars worth of golf equipment, I mean weapons? MAGA double standard, me thinks.
Oldlefty70
May 17, 2022 at 5:46 pm
I don’t believe you do any real critical thinking…you must be a Biden zombie using this article about Greg Norman to take a mindless jab at Trump and the MAGA crowd!! Your man Joe embraced and approved of the Beijing Olympics….and you are o.k. with that…and you think corrupt dementia Joe is pure as the driven snow!!?
Bob
May 17, 2022 at 6:00 pm
How many wars did Trump start during his 4 years? How many did he even incite?
That’s what I thought. Get that TDS checked.
Trump is not in their Big Club. That’s why no war and no MIC welfare. Get yourself ready for the draft for Ukr so the Quid Pro Big Guy can get his 10 and keep himself and his junkie son out of jail.
AnnoyedWithYourDumbAss
May 17, 2022 at 7:24 pm
JFC you’re a fking idiot. Trump incited rebellion on his own government, used the National Guard on peaceful protestors while he cowered like a bitch in a bunker, taunted PDRK mercilessly, caused China to threaten the immediate calling on massive debts due to huge tariffs then further incited with “China virus” comments. You just ball wash Trump so much and suck up to Fox News blowhards that you’ve turned into a sheep.
Arthur Jones
Aug 9, 2022 at 1:02 pm
You’re entitled to your own idiocy but not your own facts. You don’t incite a rebellion by asking people to go home. All your cringeworthy criticisms are based on methods. You invective is devoid of substance. He taunted North Korea? what became of that? Oh right, Nothing. Retaliatory tariffs? Yes, it’s called a trade war but in fairness, I wouldn’t expect a braindead troglodyte like you to understand strategic macroeconomics. The greatest irony in your post is calling other people sheep right after regurgitating corporate media’s propaganda conflating a protest with an insurrection. The definition of a useful idiot.
JP
May 18, 2022 at 5:17 pm
Exactly. The red hat brigade pick and chose without reason because they ain’t smart enough to reason.
John
Aug 5, 2022 at 1:43 pm
That should be ‘picked and chose’. You shouldn’t be telling anyone they aren’t smart.
Drkviol801
May 20, 2022 at 5:23 am
TRUMPS FAULT FOR GAS PRICES, #SLAVAUKRAINA BLACK LIVES MATTER , LIBS LOVE KILLING BABIES !
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Glenn
May 17, 2022 at 2:45 pm
Let them play there. No reason they have to let them play on the PGA tour, their choice
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Brain Damage
May 17, 2022 at 1:26 pm
It seems incredibly petty that golfers who belong to the PGA or the European tour are not being allowed (released) to play in this league. This is not the NBA, MLB, or NFL. This is freaking golf. These golfers are like independent contractors. If they want to go play in XYZ League or tournament they should be more than allowed to do as they please. Absolutely ridiculous. .
Jack
May 17, 2022 at 7:01 pm
You got the independent bit correct, yet ignored the contractor bit. Everyone on the PGA signs a contract of exclusivity to the PGA tour, if the PGA says you don’t get permission that’s the risk a player MUST accept by signing the contract. Permission has never been given for any event taking place in USA.
PGA isn’t banning them either, just means you can’t play on the PGA if you go to LIV.
ZFG
May 18, 2022 at 9:48 am
so where does “the match” phil vs tiger for $10M (not charity) fall under your permission slip rule? pretty sure that wasn’t a sanctioned pga tour event…
p.s i’d be willing to bet anything you can get or borrow that if tiger played in a LIV event he would still be welcomed to play any event he chooses on the pga tour… disagree?
Kevin Ricciardelli
May 18, 2022 at 11:22 am
Just like Brittney Griner?
Jeff Patterson
May 18, 2022 at 1:41 pm
No one is stopping them from playing wherever they want , they just saying you can’t come back to the Tour that you seem to despise and can’t wait to leave . So what’s the problem ?
JP
May 18, 2022 at 5:20 pm
Independent contractors ?
Imagine an independent contractor working for two competing IT firms in the same space at the same time. That’d be interesting.
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