Greg Norman: Masters patrons are supporting LIV

Greg Norman believes that LIV is winning the fight for the public’s affection based on conversations he had with patrons at Augusta National today.

The commissioner of the Saudi-funded golf league spent Wednesday the host venue for the first men’s major of the year and he says the response he received from people that he spoke to was overwhelming positive.

Speaking to the Washington Post, Norman said: “Walking around here today, there’s not one person who said to me, ‘Why did you do LIV?’

“There’s been hundreds of people, even security guys, stopping me, saying, ‘Hey, what you’re doing is fantastic.’

“To me, that tells you that what we have and the platform fits within the ecosystem, and it’s good for the game of golf.”

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Norman, who played in 23 editions of The Masters, finishing inside the top-five eight times, was reportedly on-site as a ticketed customer, rather than in any official capacity.

He was spotted walking around the course in his signature straw hat and long-sleeved white LIV polo, and was photographed having a brief exchange with fellow Aussie Min Woo Lee.

Norman claims that the reason for his visit was to show support fo LIV players in the field.

“I’m here because we have 13 players that won ten Masters between them,” he said. “I’m here just to support them, do the best I can to show them, ‘Hey, you know, the boss is here rooting for you.’

“There’s probably a couple that have been overlooked that should be in. What is that number? I’m not going to give it a definitive number, but they’re definitely quality players that have done incredible performances over the last six to nine months that are worthy of it.”

Norman’s appearance on the course came on the same day that Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley ruled out introducing a special LIV exemption category at future editions of the tournament.

“I think it would be difficult to establish any type of point system that has any connection to the rest of the world of golf because they’re basically, not totally, but for the most part, a closed shop,” said Ridley.

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“There is some relegation, but not very much. It all really depends on what new player they sign.

“But I don’t think that that prevents us from giving subjective consideration based on talent, based on performance to those players.

“Our goal is to have, to the greatest extent possible, the best field in golf, the best players in the world. Having said that, we never have had all the best players in the world because of the structure of our tournament. It’s an invitational. It’s limited field, it’s a small field. So we’re in a little bit a different situation.”

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor