Greg Norman: The Hero Golf Deserves, But Not the One It Needs Right Now

Published 06/07/2023, 7:30 PM EDT

The recent events in the golf world have painted a clear picture above our horizon – the world out there is filled with chaos. After months of verbal spats and million-dollar lawsuits, the LIV Golf Series and the PGA Tour have finally come to an understanding and decided to merge.

At the forefront of one side of the chaos was Greg Norman, a man loathed in the country for his ability to sell himself. However, with the picture clearer by the day, it looks like the Aussie great had a point after all, albeit without his presence.

Greg Norman, the unsung hero in golf’s greatest-ever battle

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Back in late 2021, talks around a new golf league were making the rounds, funded immeasurably by wealthy Saudis. While nine-figure contracts weren’t a problem, the league didn’t have a face of recognition, someone fans would instantly connect with.

Months After Seth Waugh’s Crushing Comments, LIV Golf Executive Hits Back With a Stern Statement

Enter two-time major winner Greg Norman. The swashbuckling Australian golfer possessed talents lauded by his contemporaries, but one that cost him dearly in the most crucial moments of his career. However, the biggest of chokes had made Norman a household name, which helped the breakaway league in its vision itself.

The sturdy Norman wasn’t one to give way. Having tried to form a league during his playing days, the 68-year-old had a beef against the PGA Tour already. The challenge of leading a rebel league spurned the best out of Norman, who made countless allegations and statements, which inadvertently kept LIV Golf on the hook.

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Has Norman been kicked out of the merger?

The golf world was caught unaware on Tuesday morning after the PGA Tour revealed its merger with the LIV Golf Series and the DP Tour. In a lengthy statement, the league designated the new titles for its members, but strangely, Norman’s name went missing.

While there were various reports of Norman’s ‘figurehead’ role in this season, the golf icon remained an integral part of the series. However, it looks like the Aussie would be spurned out after the merger, a decision that doesn’t bode well for his undying work ethic over the past two years.

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The wordy statement from the PGA Tour also mentioned the need for togetherness and support from all quarters for the new era of golf. Perhaps Norman would have liked it, but he won’t be coming up to the stage to applaud it.

Watch this story | Hours Before the $25,000,000 Tulsa Event, Greg Norman’s LIV Golf Suffers a Huge Setback

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Written by:

Sharan Nair is a Senior Golf Writer at EssentiallySports. He constantly covers the ongoing PGA vs LIV Golf tussle as it progresses. With over 600 articles to his name, Sharan masters the sport with his in-depth knowledge and research that is reflected in his meticulous coverage of all the Majors.

Edited by:

Manaal Siddiqui

Greg Norman: The Hero Golf Deserves, But Not the One It Needs Right Now

Greg Norman, the unsung hero in golf’s greatest-ever battle

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Has Norman been kicked out of the merger?