Rory McIlroy has lashed out at LIV Golf CEO, Greg Norman’s comments. The former Aussie pro had declared PGA Tour golfers such as Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy should be “thankful” to LIV’s introduction to golf. However, the World No. 1 debated on the claims and suggested that Woods shouldn’t be “thankful to anyone for anything.”

Rory McIlroy makes his statement against Greg Norman

Amid rumors that Greg Norman could be moved upstairs to vacate his CEO role, McIlroy voiced a complete exit. “Greg needs to go. He needs to exit stage left,” he said. The 33-year-old was speaking at the season-ending DP World Tour Championship, held in Dubai. He is one of the favorites to claim his fourth European tour’s order of merit title and first since 2015.

Read more: Rory McIlroy Rips Into LIV Chief Greg Norman: ‘Found People To Fund His Vendetta’

McIlroy also took a jibe at Norman’s earlier claim of LIV Golf’s impact on the PGA Tour. The 67-year-old had claimed the ripple effects of the LIV Golf Series were working to bring a positive change to the PGA Tour, for which golfers such as Tiger Woods and McIlroy should be “thankful”.

McIlroy tore into Norman’s claims while praising the legacy of Tiger Woods. “I’ve said this a million times: Tiger is the reason that we are playing for as much as we are playing for,” he said. “Tiger is the reason that the stature of our game is where it is. The generation of Tiger and the generation coming after Tiger have all benefited from him and his achievements and what he’s done for the game of golf.”

“I don’t think Tiger should be thankful to anyone for anything. I think everyone else in the game should be thankful,” he further added.

Is Greg Norman stepping away as LIV CEO?

Norman was introduced as the CEO of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series on October 2021. Around a year since his appointment, he has led a controversial series in its inaugural season.

But new reports were rife with a change in the hierarchy, which would have required Norman to step away from his role. While his leadership skills have come into question frequently, the ‘Shark’ was able to convince leading players to switch to LIV Golf, albeit with lucrative contracts.

Do you think Norman should give up his place as LIV Golf CEO after a solitary season? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.

Watch This Story: The Exotic Car Collection of Rory McIlroy