Greg Norman: I’m glad Rory McIlroy ‘fell on his sword’ with LIV comments

LIV Golf commissioner Greg Norman has thanked Rory McIlroy for changing his stance on his Saudi-backed league.

McIlroy has been the most vocal opponent against the breakaway series launched by Norman last year.

The Northern Irishman has said he “hates” LIV, while he also asked for Norman to ‘exit stage left’ from his role in late 2022 to allow the ‘adults’ to settle a peace agreement between golf’s warring factions.

But in a significant U-turn, McIlroy has now admitted on the Stick to Football Podcast that LIV should be accepted as part of the sport.

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“I was maybe a little judgmental of the guys who went to LIV golf at the start,” McIlroy said. “I think it was a bit of a mistake on my part because I now realise that not everyone is in my position or in Tiger Woods’ position.

“I can’t judge people for making that decision, so if I regret anything, it was probably being too judgmental at the start.”

Norman has welcomed McIlroy’s verdict, describing his comments as a “significant turning point” for all parties in the sport’s so-called civil war.

“Happy new year golf – That’s my reaction!” Norman said on LIV’s Fairway to Heaven podcast.

“I’ve got to be honest with you – I’m very appreciative of what Rory said. It’s been a painful couple of years. What we have done is been consistent. Our narrative has been consistent. Our delivering mechanism has been consistent.

“The reason I say I appreciate Rory to fall on his sword to some degree is the fact that he did judge us by not knowing the facts. He judged us on other people’s thoughts and opinions.

“We wanted to sit down from day one with them to completely make them understand the value of the LIV footprint, business model and the impact it can make on the game of golf.

“I say ‘hey thank you Rory’. We all knew it was going to work within the golf ecosystem. We all want to be there, we are going to be there – he said that. To me, this is a significant turning point for everybody.”

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Norman continued: “In 22 events we have proven to all the Rory Mcllroys of the world that in that short time period, if we can have this much of an impact on the game of golf, imagine what we can do in 53 years like the PGA Tour does.”

“As Rory quite articulately said, what we have is a platform that works. It fits within the ecosystem. I’m not quoting him but I think that’s what he said. We are on the right side of history.

“Our players are on the right side of history. All of us within the LIV worldwide organisation are on the right side of history.

“This turning point is the right moment in time for us to go out there and capitalise on it.”

In his wide-ranging interview, McIlroy also credited his European Ryder Cup teammate Jon Rahm for a “smart business move” in signing for LIV last month.

And Norman has suggested that McIlroy’s fresh opinion could have been altered by Rahm after the Masters champion’s seismic switch from the PGA Tour.

When LIV’s podcast host Jerry Foltz emphasised why the LIV enterprise ‘isn’t a bad thing’, Norman replied: “People are realising that. Rory realised it. Maybe he’s had a good conversation with Jon Rahm since Jon signed.

“I’m just speculating – maybe Jon gave him the information that we gave Jon for him to come on board with LIV.

“For Rory to come and do this, I appreciate it. It’s not easy for somebody to be so negative and then all of a sudden turn around, fall on your sword and say ‘hey, we are on the right side of history.’

“Making those positive comments towards LIV from an innovation standpoint is a very powerful testament – going back to saying – what we have is right.”

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.