Breaking; LIV Golf ‘happy’ to open talks with Rory McIlroy as Greg Norman clarifies stance
Rory McIlroy and Greg Norman have shed light on the situation after rumors swirled that McIlroy was offered a staggering amount to leave the PGA Tour for LIV Golf.
The CEO of LIV Golf, Greg Norman, has stated that he is completely willing to have discussions with Rory McIlroy about joining the circuit despite Mcilroy’s promise to remain on the PGA Tour.
Despite the ongoing conflict in golf, the player with four major wins under their belt has been consistently known as one of the most vocal opponents of PIF-supported tours. Nevertheless, false rumors circulated that this second-ranked golfer had received an $850 million proposal and two percent equity to defect to Saudi Arabia.
After the rumours caused a stir, LIV’s chief Norman cleared things up by confirming that McIlroy had never been presented with a concrete proposal and therefore would not be playing on their circuit. Additionally, there have been reports linking him to returning to the PGA Tour’s policy board as they prepare for upcoming changes.
The talks to merge the PGA Tour, LIVGolf and DP World Tour have hit a standstill. Addressing rumors surrounding McIlroy’s involvement with the LIV project, Norman confirmed that no offer was ever made by them.
Making a comment on this is unnecessary since it’s commonplace in the industry. However, if Rory expresses interest in conversing with us, we would gladly welcome him to join and play just like any other player would be treated.
I had a meeting with a prominent PGA Tour player at his residence along with one of my team members. We went through the entire procedure, and he was thoroughly impressed. However, it was ultimately up to him to decide on what path he wanted to take. Two days later, he contacted me personally and disclosed that he opted not to switch from his current position . I replied positively stating that I respected his choice as long as it involved factual reasoning while mentioning we are always available for an ongoing conversation if needed in the future.”
Regarding McIlroy, he has been resolute in his reaction regarding the possibility of participating in the Gulf State tour. He dismissed any rumors and declared to Golf Channel: “I don’t understand how these speculations arise because LIV never presented me with an offer nor have I ever considered joining them.”
Over the past couple of years, I have repeatedly stated that participating in [LIV] is not my cup of tea. However, this doesn’t imply that I hold a negative opinion about those who choose to play there. Throughout this period, it has become apparent to me that individuals are entitled to make their own choices based on what they consider best for themselves. We should refrain from passing judgment on them.”
He added, “Personally, my future lies here on the PGA Tour and it has always been that way. I plan to continue playing on this tour for the entirety of my career.”
Regarding whether PGA Tour players who have remained loyal to the circuit should be compensated better, a former Open champion expressed agreement. However, further information is anticipated this week on how that would materialize as it remains unclear and ambiguous currently.
“Yeah, it’s difficult for me to not feel like a sacrificial lamb when putting myself out there and facing the consequences. However, when I remove myself from this situation, I can see how it benefits the game of golf overall – there is no denying that. Nonetheless, as an individual player experiencing these challenges, further discussions will need to take place.”
