LIV Golf Deny Reports Of Greg Norman Being Replaced As CEO
LIV Golf managing director Majed Al-Sorour says reports of former TaylorMade boss replacing Norman are “patently false”
LIV Golf managing director Majed Al-Sorour has denied reports of Greg Norman being replaced as chief executive of their operation as “patently false”.
A report in The Telegraph stated that former TaylorMade CEO Mark King was being lined up for the role of LIV Golf chief executive, with current CEO and commissioner Norman set to move into a different role.
King, 60, oversaw a huge period of success at TaylorMade and Adidas and has been seen at several LIV Golf events this season, with the report stating that he’d met with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan – who bankrolls the fledgling golf series.
However, LIV Golf’s managing director Al-Sorour has denied talk of Norman’s role changing, denying the latest reports of King being brought in.
"Greg Norman is our CEO and Commissioner. Any suggestion that changes are being made to Greg's title or role is patently false," Al-Sorour told Golf Monthly.
Norman has overseen LIV Golf’s huge impact on the game in their inaugural season, with the huge fund at his disposal seeing the likes of Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Brooke Koepka all signing huge deals to join up.
Open champion Cameron Smith and Ryder Cup captain Henrik Stenson joined European stalwarts Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood, but after that initial impact they’re gearing up for a crucial second season.
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The rebranded LIV Golf League will return next season with an increase from eight to 14 events with a massive increase in prize money from $225m to a whopping $405m.
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Norman has shown no signs of stepping back from the LIV Golf limelight, with constant media appearances and social media posts continuing to laud the success of his project while aiming digs at the PGA Tour and the players that remain – mainly Rory McIlroy.
The Australian has also said that they were targeting around seven players from the current top 20, but it appears one of those targets has turned down the chance with Xander Schauffele said to be remaining on the PGA Tour.
The Olympic champion was one of a number of high-profile targets, but reports say the American has decided to stay on the PGA Tour for next season – which also of course includes the Ryder Cup in Italy.
It remains to be seen what LIV Golf do to keep their momentum going next season, whether it’s just through more big-name playing additions, or in the organisation itself and targeting well-known and respected executives from the world of golf, such as King, for major roles in their operation.
Making such additions would give LIV Golf a more serious outlook and a legitimacy that could also help them in their search to be recognised with points from the Official World Golf Rankings.
Paul Higham is a sports journalist with over 20 years of experience in covering most major sporting events for both Sky Sports and BBC Sport. He is currently freelance and covers the golf majors on the BBC Sport website. Highlights over the years include covering that epic Monday finish in the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor and watching Rory McIlroy produce one of the most dominant Major wins at the 2011 US Open at Congressional. He also writes betting previews and still feels strangely proud of backing Danny Willett when he won the Masters in 2016 - Willett also praised his putting stroke during a media event before the Open at Hoylake. Favourite interviews he's conducted have been with McIlroy, Paul McGinley, Thomas Bjorn, Rickie Fowler and the enigma that is Victor Dubuisson. A big fan of watching any golf from any tour, sadly he spends more time writing about golf than playing these days with two young children, and as a big fair weather golfer claims playing in shorts is worth at least five shots. Being from Liverpool he loves the likes of Hoylake, Birkdale and the stretch of tracks along England's Golf Coast, but would say his favourite courses played are Kingsbarns and Portrush.
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