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LIV Golf responds after shock report regarding Greg Norman’s future emerges

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In music terms, LIV Golf is preparing itself for that difficult second album.

After mixed reviews, and an awful lot of lucrative payouts, the Saudi-backed series will resume in 2023 with a program the organizers may tag as, ‘Golf, but even louder’.

With 14 planned events and the threat/promise of more star names jumping ship from the main tours, LIV are also confident of securing a broadcast deal to showcase their $400 million-plus of prize-money.

Two-time major winner and current LIV CEO Greg Norman has been at the forefront of media promotion from the start of even the mere notion of a breakaway tour, and is easily the most recognized face of a series that keeps modesty aside when declaring itself as having “no interest” in talking to the PGA Tour about a truce, as “our product is working.”

However, according to The Telegraph, Saudi chiefs are in talks with Mark King, former CEO of Taylor Made, the man that took the golf brand from a turnover of $263 million to $1.5 billion during his 12 year tenure to take over Norman’s role.

Proven not only at one company, King was also a success as President of Adidas North America, again increasing the company’s turnover by a significant quarter in his final year.

The report suggests that the boardroom at LIV are seeking some return from what has already been an eye-watering financial investment, with the un-named source commenting:

“The Saudis have already committed more than $2 billion to this and clearly want the business plan to be defined and for it all to be seen as rather less chaotic. The fact it has been frenetic is completely understandable as they have had to do everything off the hoof and where they have got to off a standing start–albeit with an open chequebook–is impressive.”

Whilst the source indicates that the ‘plan’ is on course, there is little doubt that King, current CEO of Taco Bell, would be a less polarizing character, and perhaps taken more seriously as the head of a business that sees itself as “another tour among existing tours” within five years.

King has been seen at several recent LIV events and is reported to have spoken with Yasir Al-Rumayyan–Governor of the Saudi Public Investment (PIF) and Chairman of Saudi Aramco, a company heavily involved in women’s golf, a facet that Norman has always said is on LIV’s agenda.

The report, however, has prompted responses from both LIV’s Managing Director Majed Al-Sorour, who told Bob Harig of SI:

“Greg Norman is our CEO and commissioner. Any suggestion that changes are being made to Greg’s title or role is patently false.”

While Norman’s son called the report “BS”.

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19th Hole

3-time PGA Tour winner calls for LIV to buy Champions Tour to fix ‘joke’ purses

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While speaking on the Subpar podcast, former PGA Tour winner and current PGA Tour Champions player Chris DiMarco said he hopes LIV buys the Champions Tour.

“We’re kind of hoping that LIV buys the Champions Tour,” he said.

“Let’s play for a little real money out here. I mean this is kind of a joke when we’re getting $2 million. There were like seven guys last week from TPC (Sawgrass, at the $25 million PLAYERS Championship) that made more money than our purses.”

In 2024, the Champions Tour had a total of $67 million in prize money over the course of 24 events.

DiMarco also defended LIV players for taking the money and said he would take it also.

“They wanted to play for a lot of money, and they deserve it. They have had some great careers, why not go and get some money?”

DiMarco also offered insight on Graeme McDowell’s move to LIV.

“I saw Graeme McDowell at the Old Memorial Pro Member, and he goes, ‘Listen, I went up to Jay Monahan and said I love the tour but I am struggling to keep my card and these guys are offering me all this money and less golf. I’m sorry, I’m going.’ And I do not blame him one bit, and I said I would have too.”

DiMarco was ranked as high as 6th in the world in 2006.

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19th Hole

‘It won’t win you golf tournaments’ – Golf analyst rips Charley Hull’s course management

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Charley Hull came just short of her third LPGA Tour victory over the weekend at the Fir Hills Seri Pak Championship when she played her last two holes at 3 over to slip all the way to 10th on the leaderboard.

After the round, Hull was blasted by Sky Sports commentator and former LPGA Tour player Trish Johnson for her lack of golf course management.

While speaking on the Sky Sports Golf podcast, Johnson spoke harshly of Hull.

“I’m probably her harshest critic, because I know how good she is. She doesn’t win anywhere near enough for her talent, and she doesn’t get involved enough, in all honestly.

“The thing with Charley is that you’re never going to change her. I read something the other day that said how much she loves the game and it’s her love of the game [that costs her]. She’s never going to change and she’s just going to go for every pin.

“In theory that’s great, but it won’t win you golf tournaments, it just won’t because she’s not that much better than anybody else. If you put Charley against Nelly Korda, then I’m picking Nelly every single day of the week.”

Johnson also made a fascinating comparison between Hull and a famous male golfer, John Daly.

“Golf-wise that’s the way she plays the game and it’s a little bit like watching John Daly I suppose.”

“There’s something that John Daly had that made him a major winner and a winner, but Charley is kind of lacking that. Her talent is not in question, but maybe her application is. Maybe it’s just the case of her never changing and that will cost her golf tournaments, there’s no two ways about it. You cannot go for every pin because that’s the way you play and it being fun, as other players are better than that and you have to have course management.”

Hull is still only 27, and therefore has plenty of time to work on her flaws to achieve the success her talent should allow.

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Former agent lifts lid on being fired by ‘zombie’ Tiger Woods

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Discussing his new book “Rainmaker” with the Daily Mail, Tiger Woods’ former agent, Hughes Norton, recounted the events leading up to and after his split with the 15-time major champion.

Norton was abruptly fired by Woods in 1998 after his 1997 Masters win and monster deal with Nike.

In the book, Norton talks about the way Tiger views his relationships, calling him a “zombie.”

The solace I can take, which doesn’t provide much, is this: He was an equal opportunity zombie with relationships, his swing coaches, his lawyer, the guy negotiated the IMG representation deal, with caddies, When it’s over, it’s over.”

Norton added:

“It is the way he terminates relationships with everyone. Whether it’s girlfriends, whether it’s his former golf coaches. It’s ironic, really. In a way he’s so good at confrontation on the golf course. If he’s playing you, he will beat your brains out every single time.

“But when it comes to confronting things like me and other people that are in his life, he has no social skills whatsoever. It’s maddening, actually.”

After he was fired by Woods, Norton was let go by IMG, which he believes was due to Woods’ influence.

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