There is no love lost between Greg Norman and Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy. However, despite their troubled history, the Shark was willing to commend the successful launch of TGL by the current golf stars. TGL debuted this year on ESPN and proved to be a resounding success. Although ratings dipped throughout the season from record highs (including over 1 million viewers for Tiger Woods’ first appearance), both ESPN and the nascent league were pleased with its winter performance. More significantly, the innovative concept resonated with golf fans and casual viewers alike, successfully integrating a simulated golf environment with the arena’s real-world green complex, which had drawn skepticism regarding its feasibility. The players enjoyed themselves, the broadcasts were engaging, and the sport received a much-needed surge of energy amidst the ongoing split between the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.
Greg Norman, the former LIV Golf CEO, was central to that divide. His strained relationships with Woods and McIlroy, both key figures promoting the PGA Tour, are well-documented. Woods and Norman’s fraught history has been established for years, while McIlroy was vocal about criticizing Norman during the height of the PGA-LIV feud.
Yet, in remarks recorded by the Palm Beach Post during an appearance at the Society of the Four Arts, Norman expressed a willingness to put the past behind him, praising LIV and the influx of private equity into golf.
“Private equity now has true value in the world of sport,” Norman said. “It’s happening all around the world. It’s happening in cricket, in Australia and in India. It’s happening in other places. I’m just so proud of the fact that that’s happened to golf, where billions of dollars are being moved into the game of golf because of private equity.”
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“The TGL is great,” Norman continued. “Everybody asks me what I think of the TGL, and I say it’s fantastic. It’s more stuff, more golf, it’s more innovation. It’s taking things to a new level. It’s catering to a new market. There’s no angst or animosity from my perspective. It’s just magnificent that people are now seeing the value that golf can provide.”
The former two-time major winner has been a transformative figure in the sport for decades, dating back to the early 90s with his pursuit of a spin-off world tour. LIV Golf managed to fulfill that vision, along with billions of dollars from the Saudi PIF, with Norman as its face, arguably winning the long-standing personal battle he waged.
The launch of TGL was not only driven by the vision of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, but also received backing from mega billionaires with ownership stakes in sports teams and other influential figures. With moguls like Arthur Blank, Fenway Sports Group, and Steve Cohen involved, as well as various athletes and celebrities including Serena Williams and Steph Curry, the initiative has considerable financial support. Given that Norman’s business ventures have eclipsed even his achievements on the golf course, his praise for TGL and his long-time rivals is perhaps not surprising. While this might not fully mend the rift in professional golf, it could serve as a positive first step.
