Greg Norman visited ‘top PGA Tour player’ for LIV talks

Greg Norman has revealed he has visited a ‘top PGA Tour player’ at his house and to outline the benefits of a move to LIV Golf.

LIV commissioner Norman is continuing to press ahead with plans for the 2025 season as uncertainty continues over a deal between the PGA Tour and Saudi Public Investment Fund which bankrolls the fledgling league.

Those plans include recruitment as Norman look to coax more elite stars from the traditional tours to his enterprise.

Jon Rahm and Tyrrell Hatton are the latest high-profile names to switch domains, but there is a possibility that the number of defections will increase ahead of next season as LIV look to replace out-of-contract players.

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And speaking ahead of his homecoming at LIV Golf Adelaide, Norman detailed a conversation with one player who was “so impressed” with his pitch, but ultimately rejected an offer.

“It’s understanding the facts of what LIV represents and what LIV can deliver on a global basis,” the 69-year-old Australian said. “It’s up to you to determine. I’ve sat down with one top, top PGA Tour player in his house, with another member of my team, and walked him through the whole process.

“He was so impressed. He said ‘well that’s not we are told in the locker room, this is really impressive’. He made the decision, he called me up two days later and said ‘I’ve decided to stay where I’m at’.

“I said ‘happy days, you made a decision on fact, if you’re happy over here, fine, stay there. The door is always open and if you want to come back and have another conversation with us, happy to do that.”

It was only two months ago that Norman made his interest in former Masters champion Hideki Matsuyama public knowledge.

“We’ve been trying to get Hideki Matsuyama. I don’t mind admitting that,” he said after the Japanese superstar’s victory in the Genesis Invitational on the PGA Tour. 

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While rumours swirl over the names of future signings, there is at least one PGA Tour star who definitely won’t be joining Norman’s start-up.

Rory McIlroy categorically ruled out ever moving to LIV last week and Norman has also denied reports he had made a move for the four-time major champion.

“LIV never put an offer to him,” Norman said. “We didn’t need to make a comment about this, this is just typical white noise that gets out there in the industry.

“If Rory was willing to sit down and have a conversation with us, would we be happy to sit down with him? One hundred per cent, no different than any other player who would be interested in coming on and playing with us.”

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.