Australian golf great Greg Norman has once again lashed out at critics of his LIV Golf Series, labeling an analyst a “paid talking bobblehead” and lashing out at the PGA Tour for their “stunning” response to his rebellious tour.
Golf remains in the throes of an increasingly hostile civil war as LIV continues to poach some of the world’s best players, backed by money from the Saudi Arabian government – whom many in the world regard as ‘sports washes’ to get people to commit human rights abuses. in the country.
However, Norman certainly doesn’t and believes his legacy will remain intact despite the fierce criticism he faces.
The two-time Major winner said he was very proud of “my vision, my faith, my commitment” in establishing LIV Golf, pointing the finger at the PGA Tour when it came to golf’s civil war.
Greg Norman (center) with the team championship winners at the LIV Golf Invitational on July 2: Dustin Johnson, Pat Perez, Talor Gooch and Patrick Reed
“Jay Monahan (the PGA Tour commissioner), if he had had the decency to follow our meetings from the beginning, none of this would have been appropriate today,” Norman said in an interview with the Palm Beach Post.
He believes “100 percent” a merger between the two rival tours is possible and says “golf would be in a much better place,” but is disappointed that the PGA didn’t come to the party and join forces.
“It just baffles me that they haven’t even had the decency to do it. We opened the door for them a few times and they wouldn’t come in,” Norman said.
Greg Norman tosses a beer to a fan from the pavilion on the 18th green of the LIV Golf Invitational in Portland on July 2
The PGA Tour will no doubt be proud of the great entertainment that the British Open was for golf watchers, with the Aussie Cameron Smith pulling out an astonishing 64 on the final round to win the Claret Jug.
That said, LIV Golf cast an ominous shadow over the tournament – especially with reports that Smith will turn his back on the PGA and sign ‘rebels’ to the LIV.
Foreshadowing the signing of Smith and many other top players, Norman said: ‘More announcements to come’.
Cameron Smith celebrates his British Open victory earlier this week
Reports indicate that the British Open champion, who angrily brushed aside suggestions in the press conference after his win, will join six other players to announce their defections.
Henrik Stenson, a Ryder Cup captain, will be announced ‘soon’, while Aussie Marc Leishman is rumored to be joining the Rebel tour as well.
‘The Shark’ revealed that the motivation for starting his own league dates back to 1994, with the late Kerry Packer as his main inspiration, after what the media lord did with World Series Cricket.
Aussie golfing great Greg Norman with wife Kirsten Kutner
He has long believed that the PGA Tour’s “monopoly” should be attacked, criticizing the “hypocrites” who attacked LIV.
Shame on (those) who are creating this storm of controversy when you look at their own system when they have 23 strange sponsors doing $40-plus billion business with Saudi Arabia. Come on, seriously?’ said Norman.
However, Norman saved his sharpest criticism for former pro and golf analyst Brandel Chamblee after calling for the Aussie’s removal from the World Golf Hall of Game.
‘I think it’s laughable. Has Brandel Chamblee ever been to Saudi Arabia? Did he ever build a golf course in a third world country? He’s a paid talking bobblehead…unfortunately, you make yourself look like a jerk,” he said of Chamblee.
Spectators crowd around Dustin Johnson at the LIV Golf Invitational earlier this month
The next LIV event will take place July 29 – 31 at the Donald Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Families of 9/11 have begged Trump to cancel the event based on the Saudi-backed money, while Trump himself on social media begged Smith and other golfers to “take the money now.”
All those golfers who remain ‘loyal’ to the deeply disloyal PGA, in all its various forms, will pay a great price when the inevitable MERGER with LIV comes along, and you’ll get nothing but a big ‘thank you’ from PGA officials who making millions of dollars a year,” he wrote on Truth Social.
Check out this space – there’s a lot more to play in golf’s Civil War.