Greg Norman Comments and PGA Ruling Add to Saudi-Backed Tour’s Woes

In a series of tense exchanges with reporters, Norman played down Khashoggi’s murder (“Look, we’ve all made mistakes”); attempted to distance himself from Saudi Arabia’s recent execution of 81 individuals in a single day (“I don’t look into the politics of things”); and sidestepped a question about Saudi Arabia’s treatment of the LGBT community by implying it does not affect him. “I’m not sure whether I even have any gay friends, to be honest with you,” he said.

Norman’s comments — and the PGA Tour’s threat — may make the LIV tour even more toxic for players considering taking part. But the overwhelming likelihood is that only a small number of players with little standing on the established, American-based PGA Tour — plus a handful of golfers past their prime — will jump to the new series, which may not lack for money but currently lacks prestige, or even a TV contract.

For now, scores of tour players, including everyone at the top of the men’s world rankings, have pledged their fealty to the PGA Tour.

Several times, Rory McIlroy, a four-time major winner who is ranked seventh in the world, has declared the breakaway tour “dead in the water.” He has also disapproved of its Saudi underpinnings, saying, “I didn’t like where the money was coming from.” Aligning with McIlroy, 33, have been some dominant new faces of the game, like Jon Rahm, Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/11/sports/golf/saudi-pga-liv.html