Greg Norman stepped down from his roles at LIV Golf in September, following his statement in January. The ex-commissioner’s departure garnered mixed reactions from the golfing community. While some players went out of their way to acknowledge Norman, others chose to remain silent. What does the nonresponse imply? Speaking up on his LIV exit and its reception, Greg Norman broke down what happened behind the curtains.

In an interview with the Australian Gold Digest, Norman didn’t hold back the details of his painful tenure as the commissioner. “I enjoyed my time at LIV. But I’ll be honest with you, it was hard. It was very draining on me,” Norman shared with Australian Golf Digest. However, the real tea was the reception of his exit, which was thoroughly unexpected.

Some players directly reached out to the ex-commissioner, bidding him farewell. But Norman refrained from mentioning a few names, implying their absence from the scene. LIV golfer Bryson DeChambeau and Brooks Koepka were two of the players who remained silent on the departure.

“There were certain players that really came up to me and there were a few others that came up to me and just thanked me for what I did for them, for being the tip of the spear, for taking it all on. Phil [Mickelson] took [plenty of heat] too, but I took it on behalf of all the guys,” Greg Norman remarked on Phil Mickelson‘s support throughout his tenure. Mickelson has often vouched for Norman and his contributions to the LIV Golf, underscoring their deep mutual respect.

Sharing the names of the golfers who bid him farewell, Norman added, “So, the guys did reach out to me – not all of them, no – but probably Phil was the one who really was very open about it and appreciative of what I did do. ‘Poults’ (Ian Poulter) was the same, along with ‘Westy’ (Lee Westwood).”

Suspiciously enough, DeChambeau and Koepka’s names were absent. Being two of the circuit’s biggest stars, fans expected at least a confirmation of their stance on the decision, if not a public statement. However, the former commissioner himself didn’t acknowledge or name the two stars, indicating a lack of participation from their side. Both golfers have maintained largely professional relationships with Norman. DeChambeau, focusing on his personal achievements, has tried to keep himself from league politics as much as possible. Similarly, Koepka has also experienced friction within the league as a result of the LIV’s controversies. In fact, rumors on Koepka’s potential return to the PGA Tour have surfaced with no official confirmation as of yet.

Their strained relationship with the league and Norman might explain their silence. It might signal a deliberate distance from Norman, reflecting either disagreement with his leadership or a desire to avoid association with LIV Golf’s controversies. It also underscores a focus on personal priorities over public gestures of gratitude.

However, while DeChambeau and Koepka’s silence remains profound, the golfing community hasn’t kept its quiet with Norman’s exit. With conflicting comments on the commissioner’s departure, the decision has witnessed a mixed reception.

The golfing world splits over Greg Norman’s LIV departure

Greg Norman made his official departure from the league in January this year. However, his contract imposed his obligations until August, after which he stepped down from his roles. However, his decision to step down as a commissioner wasn’t without noise.

“Yeah, it’s a weird one for me, obviously getting very close to Greg the last couple of years. I think he’s done a really great job. He’s taken a lot of bullets for the Tour, and I don’t know many other people that could have done that, to be honest,” Cam Smith said, highlighting his support for Norman’s contributions to the circuit.

However, the European sensation Rory McIlroy shared far different views. Quipping on the new CEO, Scott O’Neil, McIlroy added, “He has got the right credentials to take over a sports league. I think for LIV it is probably a good move now they are established.” This comment echoes the sentiment of the European roster towards Norman’s departure. In fact, his fellow golfer, Jon Rahm, also shared similar views as McIlroy.

Rahm made a subtle dig at the league’s image tied with Norman, as he expressed his support for the new CEO. He added, “I think an outside perspective, and possibly a less threatening image, might help that, as well.”

On the other hand, LIV veteran Phil Mickelson has opposing views, with an insider perspective on the administration. “My time with Greg has been incredible. I have the utmost respect for him. Greg was the one who, many years ago, had the vision of what could be for professional golf, where it needed to evolve; he was innovative,” Mickelson remarked.

It is clear, the former commissioner’s exit from the LIV was not a straightforward decision. With mixed perception and subtle digs at Norman, his leave came with strings attached. While some expressed contempt for his decision, others criticized his tenure, making no outcome the outright correct decision. However, the league would witness an undeniable transformation with O’Neil in the seat now. Whether that improves the LIV’s picture or not remains a question.