Greg Norman has officially drawn the curtain on his controversial tenure as the public face of LIV Golf, signalling at age 70 that he’s ready for a new chapter.
The Australian golfing legend, nicknamed the ‘Great White Shark,’ confirmed his departure from the Saudi-backed tour in a social media post on September 11, saying they had changed the sport over “four unforgettable years.”
Norman was the founding CEO of LIV Golf when it launched in 2021, dividing the game as the breakaway competition lured big names such as Bryson DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, Brooks Koepka and Dustin Johnson away from the PGA Tour.
In his farewell post, he even shared a photo of himself joining British Open champion Cameron Smith in a celebratory ‘shoey.’
But his influence declined in recent years. Viewed as a polarising figure, Norman was replaced by Scott O’Neill as CEO in January as the PGA Tour and LIV began moving towards reconciliation.
His contract ended last month, yet his lengthy statement this week still came as a surprise.
“After four unforgettable years, I have officially closed out my time with LIV Golf, and reflecting with nothing but gratitude, pride and achievement,” Norman wrote.
“Together, we built a movement that changed the game globally. We created opportunities for both players and fans and broaden the ecosystem of golf.
“We truly globalised the game and expanded golf’s reach to fans around the world. We brought entertainment, innovation and private equity into golf (including to the PGA Tour) positioning the sport as an asset class. It’s been an incredible chapter and I’m so proud of what we accomplished.
“My commitment to do what was and still is, the right thing for golf, the players and fans never wavered.
“Thank you to everyone who has been part of the journey with me during this time. I’ll always look back on this time with great fulfilment and appreciation.”
Where Norman heads next remains unclear. The two-time major champion still serves as an independent director on the Brisbane Olympic Games organising committee.
“As for what’s next … stay tuned!” he teased. “Exciting times ahead. Onward to the next adventure.”
Images: Instagram
