By Jim Whittemore, Certified Golf Nut #1746
Greg Norman’s efforts are vengeful and disruptive. His attempt to start a world tour in 1993 was summarily dismissed by Tim Finchem, then Commissioner of the PGA TOUR. However, the TOUR later created the World Golf Championships. Norman saw this as kidnapping his concept. A World Tour/Championships was his idea. He was livid that Finchem was now, conceptually, doing what he had originally proposed.
In 1993 – 30 years ago, Norman was at the top of the heap. The guy was ranked number one in the world for 330 weeks in the 80’s and 90’s. In 1986 he was leading all four majors after 54 holes. He won one of them – The Open. He won the Vardon Trophy three times, was number one on the money list three times and was inducted into the WGHOF in 2001. Through the ‘80’s and early ‘90’s it was all Greg Norman. He could do no wrong. The problem is he believed it. And he continued to be worshipped in Australia with numerous awards and accolades. His ego grew as big as his shadow in the setting sun.
I believe he has been simmering for years searching for a way to get back at the TOUR. He feels wronged. And he wants to get even. He found a way to do it with the Saudi’s. This is all about evening the score and he will not stop until the professional game is completely disrupted. One former PGA TOUR player described it to me as a hijacking. In his mind he is on a roll and nothing will stop him. Public opinion and reputation be damned. I am bullet proof.
The problem is – he’s not. I do not foresee his 54-hole events earning OWGR points. His fields are too small. OWGR requires a minimum of 75 players. The Team concept might work in soccer or cricket but not in golf. Golf is a singular sport. The only team golf event of any consequence is the Ryder Cup. The Presidents Cup (created to include non-UK and Asian/Australian players, etc.) runs a distant second in public interest and ratings. Speaking of which, without a broadcast package – cable or network – LIV golf will not gain any traction. Period. I have sold broadcast and cable golf events for 30 years. It won’t happen. How many people in the 18-34 demo even know who Greg Norman is? And the internet is hardly the answer. The metrics and demos are not there. Nothing to sell.
If Greg wants LIV golf to be a viable professional golf tour with a worldwide presence, he needs to drop his sword and his shield and sit down with Monahan and Pelley and hammer out a deal. But he doesn’t think he has to. He has called and they haven’t picked up. So, his attitude is – screw ‘em. I tried. The more LIV entices players away from the PGA and DP World Tours – the deeper the wounds will grow and the harder it will be to form any alliance. So until that time in some far off world, players will continue to follow the money and leave their honor, their conscience and their reputations on the side of the road in shreds. Worldwide alliance? That’s a pipe dream. Greg Norman has never been in a business venture where he does not have control. And Monahan and Pelley will relinquish nothing.
So here we are. Standoff.
And to think there have only been two LIV tournaments thus far. Buckle up.
Thanks, #1746, for an insider’s view of the LIV Golf controversy and its long-term ramifications. – The Head Nut