by 
Golf has become even stranger. Not so long ago, the idea that Rory McILroy praised Greg Norman was absurd, but here he is complimenting his compatriot multiple major winner after Liv Golf confirmed that the Australian was replaced as managing director.
Telegraph Sport revealed two months ago that the circuit funded by Saudi Arabia appointed Scott O’Neil to take the reins, Norman being transferred to the floor after three very turbulent years.
The news was finally formalized and O’Neil – the highly respected leader in sport and entertainment, the most recent role of which was to lead the conglomerate in charge of Legoland and Alton Towers – is already in control.
In the declaration, Norman adopted a positive tone and Liv insists that the change at the top was devoid of acrimony. The 70 -year -old man’s contract expires in August and he will remain a member of the board of directors and in a still indefinite role.
However, while negotiations continue for a peace agreement between the Saudi public investment fund and the PGA Tour, the time when Norman attacked the establishment – and those whom He called “The Pom-Pom Girls du Tour”-is over. Like the incendiary responses of McILroy, as main spokesperson against Liv and his incendiary commissioner.
“Greg obviously suffered a lot of criticism in the first two years of Liv,” said McILroy here at the Dubai Desert Classic after having displayed an opening of 70, five returning from one group in seven sous, including crack American amateur David Ford. “He is probably one of the only people in golf to be able to assume this role. So he managed to take it off and you have to congratulate him on it. It is now time for someone with a little more experience in this area takes over. »»
If his latest point was a distant echo of the famous McILroy reprimand in November 2022 when he called Norman to leave the Sellette du Liv – “Greg should leave the scene by the left because no one will speak unless he does not there is an adult in the room ”. -Then the general feeling is only an extension of the change of opinion from the North Irishwoman with regard to the separatist league.
For the improvement of the game and a unified global calendar, McILroy urged the PGA Tour to conclude an agreement with the PIF, even if like everyone else, he does not know exactly what would look like or work a resolution. And with the appointment of O’Neil, the American who has already managed sports franchises such as the New York Knicks, the Eagles of Philadelphia and the Devils of New Jersey, McILroy considers that the Saudis will not sacrifice Liv in the new order. .
“Honestly, I don’t know what the future has in store for them, but the measures they take, in particular from the point of view of management, do not seem to go away anytime,” said McILroy. “Scott has an incredible track record and has the qualifications required to direct a sports league. So yes, I think that for Liv, it’s probably a good thing now that they are established.
Without a doubt, the detractors of the liv will describe this as a bad decision for the great white shark, but he remains close to Yasir al-Rumayyan, governor of the PIF and president of the liv, who, in the press release, celebrated his influence and his success.
As McILroy underlined, Norman played an essential role in the training of the newcomer circuit which has irrevocably modified the landscape of professional golf. Admittedly, the double champion of the open aroused enormous controversy for some of his remarks-“everyone makes mistakes,” he replied when Liv was asked if he could if he could Justify working for a kingdom which, in 2018, ordered the butcher’s shop of journalist Jamal. Khashoggi – and has never been less than conflicting in his spikes during tours, as well as in the four majors.
However, Norman was the perfect disruptor because he himself had proposed for the first time the idea of a separatist world league in the 90s and had important links with some of the notable names that Liv had been able to secure during his raids From a billion dollars, including Dustin Johnson, Cam Smith, Sergio Garcia and Lee Westwood.
Norman was actually the victim of McILroy and Tiger Woods, but as a full -fledged golf superstar, he refused to retreat. Despite the Saudi billions, Liv needed his optimism and his cheek and he is committed to continuing to try to help the progress of what will always be called his unruly baby.
“I am delighted to pass the relay from daily management and continue to help do everything I can to develop Liv Golf,” said Norman as a farewell word. “Long Liv Golf.”
