Jon Rahm once hinted LIV Golf chief Greg Norman might need to step down for the world of golf to find harmony, and now it seems the Aussie could be doing just that.
On Tuesday, Sports Business Journal reported the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) is seeking a new CEO to lead the LIV Golf enterprise, potentially replacing Norman. The former world number one has been at the helm since the league’s birth two years ago, but he is now expected to take on a different role within the organisation.
Norman’s been a key player in setting up LIV as a rival to the PGA Tour across the past three seasons, yet he’s also caused quite the stir as a divisive character in the world of men’s pro golf. Rahm, who hopped over to the Saudi-funded circuit after bagging a staggering $600million deal last December, had dropped hints about Norman’s future before his own leap, suggesting that Norman’s departure might be key to any truce with the PGA Tour.
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The Mirror reports how speaking back in November 2022, Rahm said: “I think Greg has had a vendetta against the PGA Tour for a long time. And when you have an ulterior motive, it can cloud your judgment a little bit.
“Greg is a player, not a businessman, even if he has been successful in that area. To me, he has an ulterior motive beyond just creating a golf tour. He’s had this vengeance for 30 years.
(Image: Getty Images)
“His intentions might not be as pure as they could, which is a problem. So he might not be the best person for the job, even if he has done great things for the tour. I do believe that, for conversations to take place, Greg might need to be gone. Right now, it doesn’t seem like he and Jay [Monahan, PGA Tour Commissioner] will want to be in the same room together.”
Rahm then suggested that for the sport to evolve smoothly either Norman or Monahan would have to step aside – expressing his backing for Monahan: The Spanish star said: “Even if they disagreed, it would have been good to talk. So to get a resolution we might need one or both of them gone. I hope not. Jay has done a great job for the PGA Tour.”
(Image: Getty)
In June, six months before Rahm’s controversial remarks, the PGA Tour announced a tentative agreement had been reached with PIF, featuring Monahan and Saudi leader Yasir Al-Rumayyan leading the negotiations.
Reports later emerged that Norman was excluded from the arrangement, casting doubts on his future as LIV CEO. But in October last year, Norman rejected any suggestion of his impending departure. He said: “I knew it wasn’t ‘true’.
“There’s so much white noise running around out there, I paid very, very, I actually paid zero attention to it. I know sitting in this seat today, I know every step I’ve made has been for the right reasons, right reasons for the game of golf.”