‘It’s Really Pathetic’: After Leading The International Team Twice, Greg Norman Was Left ‘Disappointed’ By A Presidents Cup Decision in 2013

2023 started on a good note for Greg Norman. He finally signed the broadcast deal for LIV golf. However, season 2022 was significant but not easy, given that the LIV players received much scrutiny for leaving the PGA tour. Norman was in the headlines for trying to get his players OWGR rights. Before this, 2013 was also challenging for the millionaire businessman. 

He was reportedly upset when he was removed as the International team captain for the Presidents Cup in favor of Nick Price. The Presidents Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from the United States and an international team representing the rest of the world, excluding Europe. Norman was the International team’s captain for the previous two Presidents Cups, but 2013 had other plans for him.

The great white shark of golf publicly expressed his disappointment over being replaced as the International team captain. The decision was reportedly due to sponsor conflicts, and LIV CEO said that the move blindsided him. He had previously led the International team to losses in 2009 and 2011 and was set to captain them again in 2013 at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio. However, he was replaced by Nick Price.

Why was Greg Norman upset?

Speaking to Foxsports.com in America, Norman explained how the axing blindsided him. He said, “Freddie (Couples) came to me right after the Presidents Cup in Australia and said, ‘I’ll do it again if you do it again.’ I said, ‘OK, I’m in.'” The decision to replace him as the International team captain for the Presidents Cup surprised him.

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He stated that he received a phone call from PGA Tour commissioner, Tim Finchem, later stage, which blindsided him. Norman was expected to captain the International team again in 2013 but was replaced by Nick Price. The decision was reportedly due to sponsor conflicts. “Let’s just say it’s disappointing. Extremely disappointing,” said the former golfer.

The major championship winner had a long-standing, frosty relationship with the PGA Tour commissioner. One of the rumored issues that contributed to his removal was his decision to change his watch sponsor from Rolex to Omega. Norman has acknowledged that Rolex was a corporate partner of the PGA Tour. He also heard speculation that this was why he was removed as captain. However, it did not make sense to Norman, and he said, “If that’s right, then all I can say is that it’s really pathetic.”

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Do you think it was wrong for authorities to replace Norman? What do you think was right?