You’ll notice there hasn’t been a peep out of the Palace At Ponte Vedra, aka PGA Tour Headquarters now that the Saudi’s have added Greg Norman to their payroll.
No one has any sort of “job description” for Norman, who is now charged with running that proposed series that will be bankrolled under the name LIV Golf Investments. All we’re sure of at this moment is that His Sharkness is the “CEO” of LIV Golf Investments and there’s been $200 million “committed to the Asian Tour” for whatever that’s worth. That sort of money doesn’t buy you much in the world of sports anymore — about one-fifth of a new NFL stadium if you want to think of it in those terms.
But wait, there’s more coming. At least according to Norman. “This is only the beginning” was how Norman put it. He also said something about creating “additive new opportunities across worldwide professional golf,” whatever that means. Talk about vague.
So the Saudis have themselves a retired professional golfer, one who wasn’t that well liked during his playing days. Norman was a solo shark. He didn’t spend much time making friends among fellow competitors. What Norman was good it was schmoozing big wigs and, creating companies, getting himself into apparel, wine and other ventures. His net worth is estimated to be around $340 million — about a third of what Tiger Woods is worth.
Perhaps the Saudis didn’t realize that Greg doesn’t play competitive golf anymore. Otherwise, they could boast that they’ve actually signed their first “player.” No, Norman is in charge of something that can’t be quantified. And the question on most minds is: Will he be a disruptor or will he enhance the current landscape of professional golf?
He should already know what the PGA Tour thinks of the Saudi effort to create a “Premier Golf League.” You might recall that the Sheriff Of Nottingham (aka PGA Tour Commish Jay Monahan) has already told his players: “It’s them or us.”
Some young stars were quick to pee on the Premier League idea — namely Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas — who want none of whatever Norman is peddling.
There’s a lot of loyalty within the PGA Tour ranks because the money keep growing — especially when it comes to FedEx Cup payouts and events like the Players — which is increasing its purse to $20 million. Then there’s the “top-secret” PGA Tour pension fund. It’s massive, that’s all anyone will tell you on the record.
The best PGA Tour players still earn far less than the top baseball and basketball stars. Mike Trout makes $37 million a year — Steph Curry hauls in $46 million a year. But those guys are exceptions. A PGA Tour career can last a couple of decades and the earnings away from the Tour can be huge — just ask a guy like Tiger Woods.
Which brings us back to CEO Norman. Will Sharkie be able to actually persuade any “name” players to join his outlaw band?
Phil Mickelson said he’s “intrigued.” Being intrigued and leaving the PGA Tour in your rear view mirror are two different things.
Which leaves us with the still yet-to-be answered question: Will Norman and his Saudi cohorts be good or bad for professional golf worldwide?
Will this proposed league create opportunity or just endless litigation?
All we can guess is that somewhere, lawyers who may be cozy with Norman and the Saudis can’t wait.
7 Comments
scalefreak@aol.com
Sorry you seem to side with Norman vs the PGATour, based on your suggestion in a previous article that the tour somehow did him wrong. I remember years ago Norman bragging about how he’d like to start a new tour and destroy the PGA Tour. The Tour coming up with World Tour events was simply self defense against this wife-stealing, best friend-backstabbing egomaniac.
Tom Edrington
We’re not taking any sides; It’s a fact the Tour did squash Norman’s idea for elite events (that was back in 1994) then suddenly created the WGC events, which are events with very elite fields, there was nothing coming out of the Tour on that prior to Norman’s idea; Our job is to carefully monitor this development, if you read to the bottom, you might see that we believe there will be more litigation out of this than anything else; Pay attention to how the PGA Tour handles Dustin Johnson’s request for a “waiver” to play in the Saudi International in 2022, that should come to a head the first week in January; We’re not big on the Saudis and their “Sports-Washing” attempts. Did you notice we mentioned that Norman was not well-liked in his playing days?
scalefreak@aol.com
I noticed you referred to Jay Monihan as the “Sheriff of Nottingham”… hardly an impartial remark.
Tom Edrington
We gave him that nickname when he became Commish…..the backstory, he takes money from the Ultra-Rich (ie FedEx) and gives to the simply rich — PGA Tour players….
baxter cepeda
I read the October 28 article and thought: here we go again with this non starter …and with so many powerful — even scary —feathers to ruffle, I just stayed away. Deleted my comments twice.
But this story seems to not be going anywhere. So I’ll try my best to answer Toms questions from this article.
Is the shark a disruptor or an enhancer?
Both. He is no doubt disrupting and each time he does, the pga tour enhances playing opportunities, money, perks and more. Fans benefit as well with a better product.
Even if Norman never succeeds with this venture tour players and fans across the globe owe Norman (like Seve) credit for keeping the status quo honest.
Good or bad for pro golf?
Overall good. Again, if it wasn’t for such challenges players and fans wouldn’t be enjoying certain opportunities today. These continues Challenges, regardless of where they come from, no doubt create opportunities. This has been proven over time and will continue to be true.
That being said litigation will probably be endless. That’s what powerful people do.
It will be very difficult for anyone to become the new status quo of golf, maybe never, but challenges will continue changing the status quo, improving it, which is exciting to think what new things it can create for fans and players to enjoy moving forward.
Tom Edrington
Thanks for your thoughts Baxter. I see the Saudis are going all-out to get LPGA stars in their little golf series. Given the squashing of women’s rights in “The Kingdom” if I were a star on the LPGA Tour, I’m not sure I’d want to enhance anything the Saudis throw out there.
baxter cepeda
I’m sure the ladies don’t want to but they kind of need to.
This story is downright ironic.
Ladies golfs main priority is raising purses and it is crazy the Saudis of all people are helping in that regard.
The world is a complicated place. At the end of the day it’s good women are getting more opportunities and compensation in golf and it’s good the Saudis see value in women playing sports.
Sure there is a selling out factor but Maybe in a small way this helps make the world a better place.