Tag: Greg Norman

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Panorama

Milestones: Key moments that shaped the 2023 golf year

Greg Norman, the face of the LIV Tour (top left) and Allisen Corpuz as Major winner at Pebble Beach. (Photo: Getty)
Greg Norman, the face of the LIV Tour (top left) and Allisen Corpuz as Major winner at Pebble Beach. (Photo: Getty)

Over the past twelve months, golf has constantly evolved on various levels. All areas of golf are changing over time and are constantly experiencing key moments that point the development of the sport in a new direction. We take a look at various decisions, announcements and moments that have had a lasting impact on golf in 2023.

The OWGR turned down LIV Golf

The Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) announced in October that players in the LIV Golf League would remain excluded from the world ranking points. The decision resulted from a lack of comparability of the LIV format with other tours and problems such as a lack of cuts and questionable qualification methods. OWGR Chairman Peter Dawson emphasised that the rejection was not politically motivated, but was based on technical reasons. LIV Golf reacted angrily and questioned the trustworthiness of the OWGR system. However, Dawson emphasised that the rejection was not final and LIV could resubmit applications if they showed a willingness to compromise.

Sanctions and suspensions for LIV defectors

After months of discussion and speculation about possible sanctions to be imposed on LIV defectors from the DP World Tour, a decision was made in the middle of the year. The Tour officially imposed sanctions on players who had taken part in LIV Golf League and Asian Tour tournaments without authorisation. The offences against the “Conflicting Tour Regulation” were deemed reasonable and proportionate. The penalties, which include fines of up to £100,000 for each individual offence and possible tournament bans, were determined on an individual basis depending on the impact on broadcast partners, sponsors and DP World Tour stakeholders.

PGA-PIF-Deal: Merger of the tours

An earthquake in the golf world: the PGA Tour, the LIV Golf League and the DP World Tour unexpectedly merged under one umbrella at the beginning of June and immediately settled all legal disputes. The new merger, steered by the PGA Tour and the Public Investment Fund (PIF), was the result of months of hostilities between the tours. An official statement said the parties have signed an agreement that brings together the rights and operations of the three tours involved “into a new, collectively owned, for-profit entity to ensure that all stakeholders benefit from a model that maximises excitement and competition among the game’s best players”.

Delay in the start of “The Golf League”

The premiere of “The Golf League” (TGL), which was originally scheduled to take place in January 2024, had to be postponed to 2025 at the end of the year after a power failure during construction work led to the collapse of the dome of the SoFi Centre on 14 November. Although no injuries were reported and most of the technology was unaffected, the incident had a huge impact on the schedule. The decision to postpone was made after discussions with key partners, including players, team owners, PGA Tour leadership and sponsors. The TGL is confident that the extension will improve the quality. League co-founders Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy expressed disappointment about the delay but remained optimistic about the future of the TGL.

Confirmed: Golf ball rollback will come into force

The USGA and R&A rule makers announced that the driving distance of golf balls will be reduced from January 2028. The new test procedures for the “ODS” (Overall Distance Standard) are intended to limit the effects of increased hitting distances and ensure the sustainability of the sport. The rule changes affect both professional and amateur players. For average male professionals, this means a loss of nine to eleven yards, while proettes can expect a loss of five to seven yards. Male amateur players could hit their ball three to five yards shorter. The far-reaching changes for the recreational sector will take effect from 2030.

PGA Tour players on the DP World Tour

From 2024, PGA Tour players will have the opportunity to compete on the DP World Tour. PGA Tour players ranked 126th to 200th in the FedEx Cup Rankings will receive full membership on the DP World Tour. In addition, all PGA Tour players competing in a Race to Dubai tournament in 2024 will be eligible for Affiliate Membership to earn Race to Dubai points and qualify for the 2024 DP World Tour Playoffs. A new category, “Category 12”, will allow five of these PGA Tour players per week to participate in DP World Tour events.

Progress in ladies’ golf

It is not only men’s golf that is undergoing constant development. A lot has also happened in women’s golf in 2023: never before has so much money been paid out in the women’s leagues as in 2023. On the LPGA Tour, there was a total of over 101 million dollars in prize money. In addition, the US Women’s Open was held at the legendary Pebble Beach golf course for the first time since the inaugural Women’s Major 72 years ago. This move marked a milestone for women’s golf and increased media exposure and financial support. The event also introduced shot tracker technology, enabling live shot tracking. The prize money was increased to a total of eleven million dollars – a lot of progress that promotes equality in women’s golf.

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LIV Tour

LIV Golf: Martin Kaymer and Dustin Johnson in the field for first event

Martin Kaymer and Dustin Johnson will play in the LIV Golf Invitational Series. (Photo: Getty)
Martin Kaymer and Dustin Johnson will play in the LIV Golf Invitational Series. (Photo: Getty)

Speculation has been rife for a long time, but now the LIV Golf Invitational Series has announced the field for next week’s event at London’s Centurion Club. 42 of 48 players have already been selected for the three-round tournament, with a few spots still open. It was announced a few weeks ago that Martin Kaymer also wants to play in the team event, which is endowed with 25 million dollars. Besides the German Major winner, Bernd Wiesberger will also take part in the rival event to the PGA and DP World Tour. Surprisingly, Dustin Johnson has also changed his mind and is now the main mover of the event in the UK’s capital.

“Too compelling to pass up”

“Dustin has been contemplating the opportunity off-and-on for the past couple of years,” Johnson’s manager, David Winkle with Hambric Sports, said in a statement (Golf Channel). It was only in February that Dustin Johnson became one of many stars to declare his allegiance to the PGA Tour via a statement. “Ultimately, he decided it was in his and his family’s best interest to pursue it. Dustin has never had any issue with the PGA Tour and is grateful for all it has given him, but in the end, felt this was too compelling to pass up.” So the new competition series, financed by Saudi Arabian money, has succeeded after all in landing a real top-class player in the form of the world number 13 and two-time major winner.

Martin Kaymer in the mix, question about Mickelson

Moreover, the major winners and former world number one announced by Greg Norman can be found in the field of participants. As expected, Martin Kaymer will tee off at the Centurion Club alongside Johnson. In addition, there are names like Lee Westwood, Sergio Garcia, Louis Oosthuizen and Ian Poulter. Austrian Bernd Wiesberger will also take part in the opening event of the LIV Golf Invitational Series, as will other players from the DP World Tour, and will compete for the winner’s cheque of four million dollars (!).

Phil Mickelson, who was also linked to the new Saudi league, discarded himself with unspeakable statements with the PGA Tour and subsequently took time off, is incidentally not on the list published on Tuesday night. The six-time major winner, who also cancelled his title defence at the 2022 PGA Championship, is therefore unlikely to end his golfing break – as of now. However, only 42 of 48 starters have been announced. Five places are still to be left open for qualifiers from the Asian Tour, one place would then still be free. Jason Kokrak, who had openly flirted with the change, is also missing from the list.

LIV Golf Invitational Series criticised

The tournament series led by Greg Norman has been criticised because it is fed with money from the Public Investment Fund, which is largely in Saudi Arabian hands. The government of the state is accused of numerous human rights violations, which are supposed to be whitewashed with so-called “sports washing”. In the eight-tournament series, 48 players in twelve teams will compete against each other. Since there is no cut, even the last player will still receive a guaranteed fat cash prize. PGA Tour and DP World Tour had reacted to the requests of their players to be allowed to participate in the new competitive tour with tough rejections. It remains to be seen what the consequences will be for participation in the events of the LIV Golf Invitational Series.

The field of participants for the opening event

Oliver Bekker
Richard Bland
Laurie Canter
Ratchanon Chantananuwat (Amateur)
Hennie Du Plessis
Oliver Fisher
Sergio Garcia
Talor Gooch
Branden Grace
Justin Harding
Sam Horsfield
Dustin Johnson
Matt Jones
Sadom Kaewkanjana
Martin Kaymer
Phachara Khongwatmai
Sihwan Kim
Ryosuke Kinoshita
Chase Koepka
Jinichiro Kozuma
Pablo Larrazabal
Graeme McDowell
Jediah Morgan
Kevin Na
Shaun Norris
Andy Ogletree
Louis Oosthuizen
Wade Ormsby
Adrian Otaegui
Turk Pettit
James Piot (Amateur)
Ian Poulter
David Puig (Amateur)
JC Ritchie
Charl Schwartzel
Hudson Swafford
Hideto Tanihara
Peter Uihlein
Scott Vincent
Lee Westwood
Bernd Wiesberger
Blake Windred

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PGA Tour

A clear no: PGA Tour prohibits its players from participating in LIV Golf Event

The heads of the competing tours: Jay Monahan (left) and Greg Norman. (Photo: Getty)
The heads of the competing tours: Jay Monahan (left) and Greg Norman. (Photo: Getty)

It won’t be long before the LIV Golf Invitational Series kicks off. The first event of the tournament series, created by Greg Norman, is coming up. The first of eight planned tournaments will begin on June 9, 2022. For many months now, there have been heated discussions and wild speculations about the participation or non-participation of PGA Tour players in the Saudi League. Now the PGA Tour made a clear statement.

PGA Tour threatens immense penalties

From the beginning, the relationship between the established golf tours and the new Saudi League was an adversarial one. Some players from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour nevertheless now asked for the tours’ permission to participate in the first event of the Norman Series in London. The feedback from PGA Tour chief executive Jay Monahan was unequivocal: “We have notified those who have applied that their request has been declined in accordance with the PGA Tour tournament regulations. As such, tour members are not authorised to participate in the Saudi Golf League’s London event,” Monahan announced. “As a membership organisation, we believe this decision is in the best interest of the PGA Tour and its players.”

Initially, it looked like the PGA Tour would agree to tournament participation in the Saudi League that would not take place on U.S. soil. Now, however, the PGA Tour qualified that assumption on the grounds that “the event for which they have requested clearance is the first of an eight-event ‘2022 LIV Golf Invitational Series’ season, more than half of which will be held in the United States”.

PGA Tour players found to be in violation could face severe disciplinary action. In addition to suspensions, the punishment could even include revocation of PGA Tour membership.

Greg Norman: “We will not be stopped”

The PGA Tour’s announcement was promptly followed by a response from 67-year-old Greg Norman: “Sadly, the PGA Tour seems intent on denying professional golfers their right to play golf, unless it’s exclusively in a PGA Tour tournament. This is particularly disappointing in light of the Tour’s non-profit status, where its mission is purportedly ‘to promote the common interests of professional tournament golfers.” Norman calls the PGA Tour an “illegal monopoly” whose actions are both anti-golfer, anti-fan and anti-competitive. Undeterred by this latest setback, he says he and his team will not let the PGA Tour stop them.

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PGA Tour

Phil Mickelson signs up for PGA Championship and Saudi opener

Phil Mickelson is keeping all his options open. (Photo: Getty)
Phil Mickelson is keeping all his options open. (Photo: Getty)

The first tournament of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series kicks off in less than a month, and it will feature 15 golfers from the top 100 in the world rankings. This was reported by Sport Illustrated, citing a statement from LIV Golf. Among the 15 players is probably Phil Mickelson, who despite increased criticism in recent months wants to keep open the chance to participate in the first event in London. But that’s not the end of Mickelson’s return to tournament golf. The defending PGA Championship champion would like to start his comeback to the PGA Tour at this very tournament.

Phil Mickelson’s return to the tournament stage

Phil Mickelson is planning his return to the PGA Tour after withdrawing from all upcoming tournament starts for the time being in February as a result of heavy criticism. His proximity to the LIV Golf Invitational Series (formerly the Saudi Golf League) repeatedly brought him into the negative media spotlight last year, but now he wants to make his comeback and will start at the PGA Championship. Mickelson won the second major of the golf season last year. But his start at Southern Hills Country Club is not enough for Mickelson. At the same time, he applied for a permit to play in the first Saudi League tournament in June. A statement from his agency said, “We have also applied on his behalf for clearance to play in the inaugural LIV Golf Invitational in London from June 9-11. This request meets the April 25 deadline set by the PGA Tour to participate in a competitive Tour event.” It is unclear at this time whether he will take advantage of this release, but he wants to keep all options open, the statement added.

15 players from the top 100 will compete in London

According to Sports Illustrated, 14 other players from the top 100 in the world rankings are taking advantage of the 30-day period before the start of the tournament. The names of those players remain non-public and are subject to confidentiality agreements, according to a spokesperson for the LIV Golf Invitational Series. So far, about 70 players have registered for the event, but with a planned field of 48 players, not all professionals will be able to compete. It remains to be seen how and according to which criteria the field of participants will finally be put together. It also remains to be seen how the PGA Tour will handle future Saudi Tour events on American soil. At this point in time, the PGA Tour does not want to issue any permits for participation in these events. This would affect at least two of the eight tournaments, with the tournament in Portland in early July, as well as other events at Trump National Golf Club and the scheduled team finale at Trump National Doral in Miami in late October.

Daly pleads for merger of tours

John Daly sees a simple solution to the eternal back-and-forth between LIV Golf CEO Greg Norman and PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan. Daly is calling for the Saudi Tour and the PGA Tour to merge. To him, he says it’s the easy solution and also a great opportunity for golf. “I mean, you want to keep golf going and keep it strong, and the foundation of the European Tour and the foundation of the Asian Tour and the Australian Tour and all the tours and our tour the players have built through a lot of great sponsors that we’ve had. I just think it would be really good if they could work together instead of competing against each other.” He himself has not been offered a starting spot on the new tour, but he likes the concept and sees a great opportunity in the increase in prize money.

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Panorama

Greg Norman wants to participate in the 150th Open Championship

Greg Norman as a participant in the 150th Open Championship? (Photo: Getty)
Greg Norman as a participant in the 150th Open Championship? (Photo: Getty)

Greg Norman has been causing quite a stir as CEO of the LIV Golf Invitational Series for several months. He wants to organize a tournament series that is in direct competition with the world’s major tours: PGA and DP World Tour. In doing so, he also doesn’t shy away from “luring” as many big-name players as possible onto his tour, triggering a major controversy. Now he is making headlines again – but not with his LIV Golf Invitational Series.

Greg Norman wants to return to the Open Championship after 13 years

Greg Norman wants to return to tournament action in 2022. After ten years of not participating in professional sports, he wants to compete for a title again. And not just any title. At the age of 67, Norman wants to compete in the 150th Open Championship in world-famous St. Andrews.

His last tournament in which he played for world ranking points was ten years ago. The last major he played was even 13 years ago: the Open Championship 2009 in Turnberry. Nevertheless, there is no better time for Greg Norman to play one (last) time, as he assures in an interview with New Corp: “I think I can still do it. It’s the 150th, I’m a former Open champion. I love St. Andrews. If there’s one time I would consider going back and teeing off one last time. Maybe it’s this one.” He said he is currently in the process of filling out the entry form.

It remains questionable whether he will get an exemption

One fact appears to jeopardize his participation: Greg Norman, at 67, is outside the age limit of 60 set by the Open Championship. The probability that the Australian will receive a playing permit from the R&A is therefore rather low. The only alternative for Norman would be to qualify for the Major via an Open qualifying tournament. The aforementioned disputes in which Greg Norman currently finds himself will make his plans even more difficult for the 67-year-old.

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Live

Greg Norman and the Saudi Golf League: “We’re in talks with major winners”

Greg Norman ant the Saudi Golf League. (Photo: Getty)
Greg Norman ant the Saudi Golf League. (Photo: Getty)

Shortly after the US Masters 2022, the Saudi Golf League (SGL) is making headlines again. Just a few kilometers from Augusta National Golf Club, Greg Norman is said to have met with potential players of the new league. Among them were some high-profile members of the PGA and European Tour. “The interest we’ve had … Well, I had a player sitting in my office 48 hours ago who’s won a couple of major majors,” Norman told the Telegraph in an April 12, 2022, interview. The PGA and DP World Tour (formerly the European Tour) are not pleased: “They can’t park their tanks on our turf much more obviously.”

The first names are fixed

The turmoil surrounding Phil Mickelson and the various cancellations of PGA stars, including Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm and Collin Morikawa, set back the Saudi Golf League. Greg Norman revealed in an interview with The Telegraph, “It was a slap in the face, no question about it.” But Norman is not letting that get him down. According to him, interest in SGL continues unabated. “We respected the Masters and let it play out, but now our trip [ed. to Augusta] is finally coming to fruition – for the players, not for me,” Norman told the newspaper. “They have a right to get what they want. That’s why they’re still very, very, very interested. We have players under contract, as opposed to the white noise you hear out there.” Four of those players are said to be Ryder Cup stars Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood, as well as five-time PGA Tour winner Kevin Na and two-time major winner Bubba Watson. The latter, however, made it clear only a few hours after the publication of the interview with Greg Norman that he would continue to play on the PGA Tour.

Bubba Watson prefers US Open and 150th Open over Saudi League

The former world number two recently published his tournament schedule for the coming months. What is striking is not the tournaments he is playing, but which ones he is foregoing. Bubba Watson has been linked to the Saudi League in the past, but now he’s playing the RBC Canadian Open, as he revealed on Twitter. The tournament stands out from his tournament schedule because the first of eight events in the LIV Golf Internation Series starts in London at the same time. Watson’s goal, he said, is to qualify for the US Open and the 150th Open Championship. If he succeeds in doing so, Watson said there will be further changes to his tournament schedule.

Greg Norman remains convinced of the concept of the Saudi Golf League

“Honestly, it doesn’t matter who plays, we’re going to run the event,” he said. “There is a first prize of $4 million. I hope a junior player who is ranked 350th in the world wins. It will change his life, his family’s life. And then a couple of our events will go by and the top players will see someone win $6 million or $8 million and say, ‘Enough is enough, I know I can beat these guys week after week with my hands tied behind my back.” The first event addressed will be held in two months at the London Centurion Club. After that, it’s off to the U.S., among other places, where Greg Norman and SGL are guests at the Trump courses, which are outlawed by the PGA.

Two world number one to join SGL

This was reported by the Daily Mail, also at the beginning of the week. The report says that SGL has already recruited two former world number one players, names were not mentioned. After the withdrawal of world stars such as Bryson DeChambeau and Dustin Johnson, it is unclear who the players mentioned will be.

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Panorama Top Tours

Super Golf League: Greg Norman reveals the plan

CEO Greg Norman has released specific plans for the new Super Golf League, including a new name and logo. (Photos: Getty/LIV)
CEO Greg Norman has released specific plans for the new Super Golf League, including a new name and logo. (Photos: Getty/LIV)

The new series of LIV Golf Investments with CEO Greg Norman has long been considered a controversial counter-project to the PGA Tour and DP World Tour. And although big-name players have repeatedly spoken out against the new tour series, organizers released very specific plans for the new Super Golf League for the first time on Wednesday (March 16, 2022).

However, the new series turns out not to bear the name Super Golf League or Saudi Golf League, but, leaning on the investor, the LIV Golf Invitational Series will start in June this year, Golf.com reports the latest developments around the debatable tour.

Greg Norman: “I want golf to grow, players to have additional opportunities, and fans to have more fun”

In an official statement, Greg Norman, CEO of LIV Golf Investments, commented on the new developments. “I want golf to grow, players to have additional opportunities, and fans to have more fun”, Norman said. “My mission is to help the game reach its full potential and we know the role of golf as an entertainment product is critical to overall participation in the sport.”

To achieve this goal, organizers also set an initial schedule. The series, which will feature a total of eight events, will include four locations in the U.S., as well as individual events in the United Kingdom, Thailand and Saudi Arabia.

Nevertheless, a venue for the final championship has not yet been announced. Also, the first tournament will be held June 9 at Centurion Golf Club in London, England. Finally, the announcement did not mention TV partners or players participating so far.

Here is the full schedule for 2022:

June 9-11: Centurion Golf Club, London, England.
July 1-3: Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Portland, Ore.
July 29-31: Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, Bedminster, N.J.
Sept. 2-4: The International, Boston, Mass.
Sept. 16-18: Rich Harvest Farms, Chicago, Ill.
Oct. 7 to 9: Stonehill Golf Club, Bangkok.
October 14 to 16 : Royal Greens Golf Club, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
October 28-30: Team Championship, TBA.

Super Golf League: Schedule not to clash with other tours

Actually, the press release goes on to say that the LIV Golf Invitational Series schedule is not intended to compete with the four majors or other international events. Therefore, allowing players to choose where they want to play.

However, Jay Monahan, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, has already announced that any Tour players who join the new league will be banned from the PGA Tour. Norman had hit back in response, saying that’s not how it can be done.

“I believe players will increasingly make progress in achieving their right to play where they want. We will help in any way possible and will provide golfers with opportunities to achieve their full potential”, Norman concluded.

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Panorama

Asian Tour announces Saudi sponsored tournament series: England to host

Asian Tour hosts Tournament in UK (foto: Getty)

This week, the Asian Tour hosts the Saudi International in Saudi Arabia. Lured by big entry fees, some high-profile players like Phil Mickelson and Xander Schauffele are competing at the Royal Greens Golf & Country Club. Now the Asian Tour, funded by LIV Golf Investments, is announcing an international tournament series for 2022/23. A tournament will also be held in England.

Asian Tour tournament series starts in Thailand

The “International Series” consists of ten tournaments and will start in Thailand next March. In June, the tournament series will even move to England to the Centurion Club, which is located near London. The tournament series is financed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and is to receive a total subsidy of 300 million dollars from this fund. This info was announced by former world number one Greg Norman at the Saudi International this week, and he is also rumored to be the chairman for the “International Series.”

“International Series” in conflict with PGA and DP World Tour.

This week’s Saudi International and the accompanying high entry fees for participants already caused unrest on the other tours. While the DP World Tour finally allowed the participation for its members, the PGA Tour set up obligations to be met in case of participation. Thus, some well-known players, including players such as defending champion Dustin Johnson or Phil Mickelson will start in Saudi Arabia. The “International Series” could also cause conflicts between the professional tours. The tournament in England will take place just one week before the start of the US Open, which could possibly lead to preparation difficulties for participants should they wish to take part in both tournaments.

Plans for the future criticized


LIV Golf Investment is also behind the planned Saudi Super League. The $300 million partnership with the Asian Tour indicates that plans for this Super League are becoming more concrete, with the tournament series on the Asian Tour as a possible initial test run. Such a “Super League,” as well as participation in the Saudi Internationals, has been heavily criticized publicly because of Saudi Arabia’s very poor human rights record.