The LIV Golf folks admirably opened their Commissioner to questioning following news of a staggering infusion of more money and to roll out world ranking numbers hoping to play the June 2-9 event outside London. One huge catch: Commissioner Greg Norman is a terrible interview and continues to do his best to sink this ambitious ship. Assuming you expect consistency, clarity, vision, non-B speak or a sense this is something to be taken seriously.
And the grow the game references are almost a nervous tick at this point. Another sign no one has been able to tell him the phrase is a way of announcing to the world, “I’m a stooge with no one around me to say stop using that inane, phony, shallow phrase.”
The latest rollout’s details.
According to Bob Harig at Morning Read, “LIV Golf Investments received 170 entries for the June 9-11 event at the Centurion Golf Club outside of London, with 36 ranked among the top 150 in the Official World Golf Ranking. Several amateurs, who have apparently worked out NIL (name, image and likeness) deals, will also be part of the 48-player field.”
Not a single player name was released. Norman said 19 of the top 100, and six of the top 50 are committed. Again, before releases were granted.
These field numbers, cited by Norman in multiple interviews, have been made before all releases from the PGA Tour and DP World Tour have been granted. With the DP potentially saying no to as many as 40, the numbers may take a hit.
Norman announced a new “infusion of $2 billion from the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia that will help launch its eight-tournament schedule this year, a 10-tournament slate in 2023 and the league, which in 2024 and 2025 will have 14 tournaments that include 12 four-man teams. Norman is in London for a promotional event tied to the first tournament.
This is new money on top of the initial investment that appears appears meant to show a commitment beyond this year and next but also comes with players needing to commit to a league concept starting in ‘24.
Norman gave interviews to Sky Sports and BBC where, at best, he was all over the map.
Norman said that he understood people's concerns about the source of the money funding the tour and the human rights violations in Saudi Arabia, but added that the country was making a "cultural change from within" and that he specifically has no ties to the government.
"100 per cent [I understand]," Norman said. "And it's reprehensible what happened with [Jamal] Khashoggi. Own up to it, talk about it.
"But if you go back into Saudi Arabia, they're making a cultural change from within to change that. They don't want to have that stigma sitting over there.
"The generation of kids that I see today on the driving range, they don't want that stigma going on into generations and their kids. They want to change that culture and they are changing it.
"And you know how they're doing it? Golf."
I believe that’s what they call sportwashing, as Weir noted. Greg said no.
Norman added: "I'm not going to get into politics, I don't know what the Saudi government does. I don't want to get into that. Every country has a cross to bear.
"They're not my bosses. We're independent. I do not answer to Saudi Arabia. I do not answer to their government or MBS [Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud].
"I answer to my board of directors, and MBS is not on that. Simple as that. So that narrative is untrue."
Wonder who he thinks the board reports to?
Maybe the Crown Prince got a standing O at the last PIFSA annual meeting for his choice of sandal?
The full interview is a wild mess of contradictions:
"The generation of kids that I see today on the driving range, they don't want that stigma going on into generations and their kids. They want to change that culture and they are changing it.
"And you know how they're doing it? Golf."
Norman added: "I'm not going to get into politics, I don't know what the Saudi government does. I don't want to get into that. Every country has a cross to bear.
"They're not my bosses. We're independent. I do not answer to Saudi Arabia. I do not answer to their government or MBS [Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud].
"I answer to my board of directors, and MBS is not on that. Simple as that. So that narrative is untrue."
"Their commitment to the league when it gets to 2024 is because they will own part of a franchise. They'll be able to go: Okay, I want to be traded for 'X'. They will be creating value within that team. The value today that doesn't exist for any player, anywhere in the world.
"It's up to them to make that decision. Personally, I wish I had this opportunity.
"We are not trying to destroy the Tour. 100 per cent not. I will fight to my death on that one. I'm still a lifetime member of the PGA Tour."
Speaking to BBC’s Iain Carter, Norman is backing off the use of disruptor or disruption and now calling 2022 and 2023 as LIV’s “baiter” years. “We are a start up, basically," he said.
With seed money from a regime that loves to cut people’s heads off after a not-fair trial.
Carter asked about television and high ticket prices for the initial events.
"I think people will realise the platform we have out there, the ability of the fans to get a better experience for the players, the stakeholders. Our production budget is mind-blowingly impressive."
He then revealed the opening event in Hertfordshire will be shown on YouTube. "Centurion will be streamed live," he said. "We have a lot of linear and OTT [over the top] people wanting to come in with us. We are under NDAs with nine of them."
NDA’s…except with YouTube!
Throughout the interview he insisted the primary objective is to "grow the game" and deferred to ticketing agencies for ground pass prices that start at £69.22 per day and £52 for students. By way of comparison, ticket prices for last week's British Masters at The Belfry started at £40.
"Ticket people make those decisions," he said.
Ah that’s the hands on, take all responsibility type of leadership you love to see!