“No idea, ask Jay”- Greg Norman’s son takes subtle jibe at PGA Tour over LIV Golf merger
Greg Norman Jr. reacted to the PGA Tour's proposed rule changes on Tuesday, October 29, 2024. The son of the LIV Golf Commissioner and CEO used his X (formerly Twitter) account to share his thoughts with his over 16,700 followers.
The PGA Tour's Players Advisory Council proposed several changes to the tour's policies, including a reduction in the number of Monday qualifiers. In response, Norman Jr. suggested on X that LIV Golf should implement weekly qualifiers to create a "People's Team." Here's what he wrote:
"For what it's worth... I've been preaching for awhile that LIV should absolutely open up weekly qualifiers for a People's Team... a team that anyone can qualify for. If you play well, you stay on the team, and the general public can participate in shared ownership and governance."
A fan commented on this post, asking Norman Jr. when the rumoured merger between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf will become a reality, to which Norman Jr. responded with the following:
"No idea... ask Jay [Monahan]."
LIV Golf was created in 2022 with the financial backing of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF). Since then, the new golf league has attracted several of the PGA Tour's top stars, including Brooks Koepka, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm.
The PIF and the PGA Tour are negotiating an agreement to end the current controversy in men's professional golf, which began in mid-2023. There is no word yet on when a final agreement will be reached.
Greg Norman and his future with LIV Golf
In the midst of negotiations between the PIF and the PGA Tour, rumors surfaced suggesting that Greg Norman might be stepping down from his position on the LIV Golf Board in the near future. The two-time major champion has refuted these claims, stating that his contract with LIV Golf extends until August 2025.
This was part of what he said exclusively to Sports Illustrated:
"My contract is through August of 2025. My commitment to LIV has been unquestioned and my commitment into the future is also unquestioned. Time will tell."
It also emerged on Tuesday that the PIF will maintain its funding of LIV Golf despite plans to reduce its overseas investments by up to 12%. According to a report in the Financial Times, the Saudi fund will reduce its overseas investments from the current 30% to between 18% and 20%.
According to the report, the PIF is prioritizing domestic projects that offer significant benefits to the country in the face of declining profits from oil production and exports.y
PIF has been heavily involved in sports in recent years, with investments in English soccer's Newcastle United and the top men's and women's tennis circuits. It also has several investments in golf circuits such as the Ladies European Tour, the Asian Tour and LIV Golf.